Australia vs Papua New Guinea: Population Comparison 2026
Australia
Papua New GuineaAustralia has 16,279,248 more people than Papua New Guinea (2.5× as many): 27.2 million vs 10.9 million in 2026. Median age is 38.5 in Australia and 23.0 in Papua New Guinea; fertility is 1.64 vs 2.99 children per woman.
Australia
20260
people
- Median age
- 38.5
- Fertility (TFR)
- 1.64
- Working age (15–64)
- 64.0%
- Trend
- Growing (+0.94%)
Papua New Guinea
20260
people
- Median age
- 23.0
- Fertility (TFR)
- 2.99
- Working age (15–64)
- 63.5%
- Trend
- Growing (+1.72%)
Population pyramids, 2026
Total Population
Australia
27.2M
vs
Papua New Guinea
10.9M
Youth (0-14)
Australia
17.5%
vs
Papua New Guinea
32.8%
Elderly (65+)
Australia
18.5%
vs
Papua New Guinea
3.7%
Where the two pyramids differ
The pyramids are overlaid so you can read the difference by age and sex: the longer bar in each band marks the country with more people of that age.
📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart
This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between Australia and Papua New Guinea for each age group, split by gender:
Left Side (Males)
Blue = Australia has more males
Green = Papua New Guinea has more males
Right Side (Females)
Pink = Australia has more females
Orange = Papua New Guinea has more females
💡 How to Read: Each age group shows up to 2 bars - one on the left (male difference) and one on the right (female difference). The bar's color tells you which country has more people, and the bar's length shows by how much. For example, if you see a green bar on the left, it means Papua New Guinea has more males in that age group.
Notable Differences (>20% variance):
Ages 0-4: Australia has 25.6% more people
Men: 158K more in Australia • Women: 159K more in Australia
Australia: 798K men, 758K women • Papua New Guinea: 640K men, 598K women
Population Ratio
1.6M
1.2M
Ages 5-9: Australia has 30.1% more people
Men: 182K more in Australia • Women: 181K more in Australia
Australia: 805K men, 762K women • Papua New Guinea: 623K men, 581K women
Population Ratio
1.6M
1.2M
Ages 10-14: Australia has 43.5% more people
Men: 250K more in Australia • Women: 250K more in Australia
Australia: 847K men, 801K women • Papua New Guinea: 597K men, 551K women
Population Ratio
1.6M
1.1M
Ages 15-19: Australia has 56.5% more people
Men: 301K more in Australia • Women: 307K more in Australia
Australia: 863K men, 818K women • Papua New Guinea: 563K men, 512K women
Population Ratio
1.7M
1.1M
Ages 20-24: Australia has 65.6% more people
Men: 324K more in Australia • Women: 332K more in Australia
Australia: 849K men, 807K women • Papua New Guinea: 525K men, 475K women
Population Ratio
1.7M
1.0M
Ages 25-29: Australia has 93.6% more people
Men: 434K more in Australia • Women: 426K more in Australia
Australia: 913K men, 867K women • Papua New Guinea: 479K men, 440K women
Population Ratio
1.8M
919K
Ages 30-34: Australia has 129.8% more people
Men: 543K more in Australia • Women: 552K more in Australia
Australia: 978K men, 962K women • Papua New Guinea: 435K men, 410K women
Population Ratio
1.9M
844K
Ages 35-39: Australia has 157.4% more people
Men: 591K more in Australia • Women: 616K more in Australia
Australia: 977K men, 997K women • Papua New Guinea: 386K men, 381K women
Population Ratio
2.0M
767K
Ages 40-44: Australia has 189.9% more people
Men: 624K more in Australia • Women: 627K more in Australia
Australia: 949K men, 962K women • Papua New Guinea: 325K men, 334K women
Population Ratio
1.9M
659K
Ages 45-49: Australia has 200.5% more people
Men: 556K more in Australia • Women: 568K more in Australia
Australia: 832K men, 853K women • Papua New Guinea: 276K men, 285K women
Population Ratio
1.7M
561K
Ages 50-54: Australia has 255.3% more people
Men: 590K more in Australia • Women: 605K more in Australia
Australia: 822K men, 842K women • Papua New Guinea: 232K men, 237K women
Population Ratio
1.7M
468K
Ages 55-59: Australia has 332.4% more people
Men: 602K more in Australia • Women: 636K more in Australia
Australia: 789K men, 821K women • Papua New Guinea: 187K men, 185K women
Population Ratio
1.6M
372K
Ages 60-64: Australia has 437.4% more people
Men: 598K more in Australia • Women: 647K more in Australia
Australia: 745K men, 784K women • Papua New Guinea: 147K men, 138K women
Population Ratio
1.5M
285K
Ages 65-69: Australia has 641.3% more people
Men: 583K more in Australia • Women: 650K more in Australia
Australia: 683K men, 742K women • Papua New Guinea: 100K men, 92K women
Population Ratio
1.4M
192K
Ages 70-74: Australia has 978.0% more people
Men: 529K more in Australia • Women: 588K more in Australia
Australia: 587K men, 645K women • Papua New Guinea: 58K men, 56K women
Population Ratio
1.2M
114K
Ages 75-79: Australia has 1607.9% more people
Men: 466K more in Australia • Women: 518K more in Australia
Australia: 496K men, 549K women • Papua New Guinea: 30K men, 31K women
Population Ratio
1.0M
61K
Ages 80-84: Australia has 2417.8% more people
Men: 310K more in Australia • Women: 358K more in Australia
Australia: 323K men, 373K women • Papua New Guinea: 13K men, 15K women
Population Ratio
696K
28K
Ages 85-89: Australia has 4139.1% more people
Men: 167K more in Australia • Women: 220K more in Australia
Australia: 171K men, 225K women • Papua New Guinea: 4K men, 5K women
Population Ratio
396K
9K
Ages 90-94: Australia has 8253.3% more people
Men: 65K more in Australia • Women: 109K more in Australia
Australia: 66K men, 110K women • Papua New Guinea: 907 men, 1K women
Population Ratio
176K
2K
Ages 95-99: Australia has 16003.2% more people
Men: 16K more in Australia • Women: 35K more in Australia
Australia: 16K men, 35K women • Papua New Guinea: 137 men, 178 women
Population Ratio
51K
315
Ages 100+: Australia has 20230.3% more people
Men: 2K more in Australia • Women: 5K more in Australia
Australia: 2K men, 5K women • Papua New Guinea: 14 men, 19 women
Population Ratio
7K
33
Demographic comparison, 2026
| Indicator | Australia | Papua New Guinea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2026) | 27,227,096 | 10,947,848 | Australia has 16.3 million more (2.5×) |
| Change 2025–2026 | +0.9% (Growing) | +1.7% (Growing) | |
| Median age (2026) | 38.5 | 23.0 | Australia older by 15.5 yrs |
| Total fertility rate | 1.64 — 0.46 below replacement | 2.99 — 0.89 above replacement | |
| Fertility rate, 2030 (UN projection) | 1.64 | 2.84 | |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 11.1 | 23.5 | |
| Population 2050 (UN projection) | 32.5 million (+19.4%) | 14.9 million (+36.2%) | |
| Peak population | Peaks 2100 | Peaks 2100 |
Differences by age group, 2026
| Age | Australia (M / F) | Papua New Guinea (M / F) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 798K / 758K | 640K / 598K | Australia has 25.6% more people aged 0-4 |
| 5-9 | 805K / 762K | 623K / 581K | Australia has 30.1% more people aged 5-9 |
| 10-14 | 847K / 801K | 597K / 551K | Australia has 43.5% more people aged 10-14 |
| 15-19 | 863K / 818K | 563K / 512K | Australia has 56.5% more people aged 15-19 |
| 20-24 | 849K / 807K | 525K / 475K | Australia has 65.6% more people aged 20-24 |
| 25-29 | 913K / 867K | 479K / 440K | Australia has 93.6% more people aged 25-29 |
| 30-34 | 978K / 962K | 435K / 410K | Australia has 129.8% more people aged 30-34 |
| 35-39 | 977K / 997K | 386K / 381K | Australia has 157.4% more people aged 35-39 |
| 40-44 | 949K / 962K | 325K / 334K | Australia has 189.9% more people aged 40-44 |
| 45-49 | 832K / 853K | 276K / 285K | Australia has 200.5% more people aged 45-49 |
| 50-54 | 822K / 842K | 232K / 237K | Australia has 255.3% more people aged 50-54 |
| 55-59 | 789K / 821K | 187K / 185K | Australia has 332.4% more people aged 55-59 |
| 60-64 | 745K / 784K | 147K / 138K | Australia has 437.4% more people aged 60-64 |
| 65-69 | 683K / 742K | 100K / 92K | Australia has 641.3% more people aged 65-69 |
| 70-74 | 587K / 645K | 58K / 56K | Australia has 978.0% more people aged 70-74 |
| 75-79 | 496K / 549K | 30K / 31K | Australia has 1607.9% more people aged 75-79 |
| 80-84 | 323K / 373K | 13K / 15K | Australia has 2417.8% more people aged 80-84 |
| 85-89 | 171K / 225K | 4K / 5K | Australia has 4139.1% more people aged 85-89 |
| 90-94 | 66K / 110K | 1K / 1K | Australia has 8253.3% more people aged 90-94 |
| 95-99 | 16K / 35K | 0K / 0K | Australia has 16003.2% more people aged 95-99 |
| 100+ | 2K / 5K | 0K / 0K | Australia has 20230.3% more people aged 100+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more people, Australia or Papua New Guinea?
Australia has more: 27.2 million vs 10.9 million in 2026 — 2.5× as many, 16.3 million more people.
Which country is older?
Australia, with a median age of 38.5 vs 23.0 in Papua New Guinea (2026).
Which has higher fertility?
Papua New Guinea, at 2.99 children per woman vs 1.64 in Australia. Replacement is 2.1, so both are compared against it.
How will Australia and Papua New Guinea compare in 2050?
By 2050 the UN projects Australia at 32.5 million (+19.4% from 2026) and Papua New Guinea at 14.9 million (+36.2%).
Are Australia and Papua New Guinea growing or shrinking?
Australia is growing (+0.9% in 2026); Papua New Guinea is growing (+1.7%).
