Papua New Guinea
- Capital
- Port Moresby
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 10.8 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in Papua New Guinea rose 4.4% in 2025, faster than in most countries.
- Papua New Guinea's economy grew 5.6% in 2025, faster than most economies.
- Output per person in Papua New Guinea was US$3,020 in 2025, lower than in most countries.
- 2.6% of Papua New Guinea's labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
- Papua New Guinea's central government owed 52.0% of GDP in 2024, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- Papua New Guinea had 10.8 million people in 2025: about 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 91st largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- Papua New Guinea had a current account surplus of 15.5% of GDP in 2024, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.4% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.6% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | −0.5% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −3.2% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | −0.3% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$3,020 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$2,912 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$2,966 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$3,102 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$2,608 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$2,430 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$2,576 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$2,566 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$2,478 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$2,316 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2024Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52.0% | 53.2% |
| 2023 | 52.4% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 48.2% | 55.6% |
| 2021 | 52.6% | 58.8% |
| 2020 | 48.7% | 64.3% |
| 2019 | 40.2% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 36.7% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 33.7% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 29.9% | 49.4% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10.8 million |
| 2024 | 10.6 million |
| 2023 | 10.4 million |
| 2022 | 10.2 million |
| 2021 | 10.0 million |
| 2020 | 9.8 million |
| 2019 | 9.6 million |
| 2018 | 9.4 million |
| 2017 | 9.2 million |
| 2016 | 9.0 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Papua New Guinea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15.5% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | 14.4% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 12.6% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | 15.9% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | −2.8% |
| 2015 | 11.2% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Papua New Guinea since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.