Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has revealed that Papua New Guinea’s population has officially reached 10,185,363, according to the 2025 national census figures recorded as of 16 June 2025.
Speaking at the launch of the Reset PNG@50 blueprint at the University of Papua New Guinea, PM Marape said the census data was a sobering reminder of the country’s rapid demographic expansion — and a critical call to action for all sectors of government and society.
From 3 Million in 1975 to Over 10 Million Today
“In 1975, we were a nation of about 3 million people,” the Prime Minister said. “Fifty years later, we are more than 10.1 million strong — that is a massive increase, and it must change how we plan, budget, and deliver.”
He disclosed that out of the current total population, 4,357,922 are under the age of 18, highlighting the youth-heavy nature of PNG’s demographic structure.
“This tells us something very important — the majority of our people are young. That’s a lot of mouths to feed, schools to build, teachers to train, and jobs to create,” he said.
The Urgent Need for Economic Growth and Efficiency
PM Marape warned that while the population has grown by over 3% annually, economic growth has lagged behind, averaging below 3%. “That is not sustainable,” he said. “If our population is growing faster than our economy, then we are stretching limited resources thinner and thinner. This is why growing the economic basket is not optional — it is critical.”
He stressed that government service delivery must now be planned around real-time, evidence-based data, using accurate population numbers to determine where funding, infrastructure, and staff should go.
Accountability in Budget Spending
The Prime Minister raised concerns about misuse of funds and lack of reporting by government entities, especially in light of the billions now being distributed.
“In the last six years, over K56 billion has been released to provinces, districts, departments, and institutions,” he said. “What have we done with it? Why do some provincial health authorities have no medicine while others are well-stocked, even though they received the same amount of funding?”
He emphasised that every toea must be accounted for, especially when PNG now has over 10 million citizens to serve.
Call to Public Servants and Leaders
PM Marape urged all public servants and leaders to take the census data seriously and to shift from paper planning to performance delivery.
“You see money, you report it. You deliver. You show results,” he said. “The size of the population is no longer an estimate — it’s a fact. So now we have no excuse not to plan properly.”
He also said the National Monitoring and Coordination Authority would be empowered to track how funds are used and whether outcomes match population needs.
A National Challenge for a New Generation
With more than 4 million citizens under 18, the Prime Minister said the future of PNG rests on the decisions made today.
“This census isn’t just a statistic — it’s a warning and an opportunity,” he said. “We must reset how we think, plan, and work. Ten million people is a big house to manage — and we must rise to the challenge.”