Net migration in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Net migration was -284 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Papua New Guinea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Papua New Guinea is -284, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 59.8% on the previous year and down 100.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Papua New Guinea peaked at 50,106 in 2010 and was at its lowest, -26,232, in 1988.
Papua New Guinea ranks 99th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -2,034 | — |
| 1961 | -10,409 | +411.8% |
| 1962 | -12,141 | +16.6% |
| 1963 | -15,189 | +25.1% |
| 1964 | -17,730 | +16.7% |
| 1965 | -18,532 | +4.5% |
| 1966 | -17,454 | -5.8% |
| 1967 | -19,767 | +13.3% |
| 1968 | -19,188 | -2.9% |
| 1969 | -18,994 | -1.0% |
| 1970 | -18,773 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | -18,945 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | -20,303 | +7.2% |
| 1973 | -21,803 | +7.4% |
| 1974 | -22,771 | +4.4% |
| 1975 | -23,562 | +3.5% |
| 1976 | -24,198 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | -24,722 | +2.2% |
| 1978 | -25,208 | +2.0% |
| 1979 | -25,618 | +1.6% |
| 1980 | -25,638 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | -25,383 | -1.0% |
| 1982 | -25,355 | -0.1% |
| 1983 | -25,465 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | -25,487 | +0.1% |
| 1985 | -25,470 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | -25,495 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | -25,720 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | -26,232 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | -19,824 | -24.4% |
| 1990 | 2,398 | -112.1% |
| 1991 | 26,830 | +1018.8% |
| 1992 | 36,622 | +36.5% |
| 1993 | 38,220 | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 39,669 | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 40,962 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 41,994 | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 42,787 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 43,091 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 42,519 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 41,855 | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 41,962 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 42,657 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 43,639 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 44,811 | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 46,014 | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 47,191 | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 48,203 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 48,985 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 49,647 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 50,106 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 40,690 | -18.8% |
| 2012 | 37,893 | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 35,280 | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 32,840 | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 30,580 | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 28,473 | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 26,513 | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 24,684 | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 22,978 | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 10,703 | -53.4% |
| 2021 | 10,703 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | -787 | -107.4% |
| 2023 | -787 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -707 | -10.2% |
| 2025 | -284 | -59.8% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's -284 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's -284 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462, 61% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Papua New Guinea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1018.8% | 2,398 | 26,830 |
| 1961 | -411.8% | -2,034 | -10,409 |
| 1990 | +112.1% | -19,824 | 2,398 |
| 2022 | -107.4% | 10,703 | -787 |
| 2025 | +59.8% | -707 | -284 |
| 2020 | -53.4% | 22,978 | 10,703 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -15,144 | -19,767 | -2,034 | 10 |
| 1970s | -22,590 | -25,618 | -18,773 | 10 |
| 1980s | -25,007 | -26,232 | -19,824 | 10 |
| 1990s | 35,509 | 2,398 | 43,091 | 10 |
| 2000s | 45,496 | 41,855 | 49,647 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33,004 | 22,978 | 50,106 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,140 | -787 | 10,703 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More financial sector data for Papua New Guinea
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0543 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Papua New Guinea?
- Net migration in Papua New Guinea was -284 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 50,106 in 2010.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was -26,232 in 1988.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for net migration?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 99th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.