Regions of Papua New Guinea: population and official figures
Papua New Guinea is divided into 22 regions. The largest by population is Morobe with 997,545 people (9.8% of the total); the smallest is Manus with 69,560. Population figures are the final results of the 2024 National Population Census (National Statistical Office, October 2025). Jobs, phones and banking, water and toilets, health, schooling, food insecurity and violence come from the National Statistical Office's 2016-18 Demographic and Health Survey, the latest survey with results for every province; those are survey estimates from samples (small provinces carry wider margins of error) and are older than the census. Budget figures are the 2025 outcomes in the Department of Treasury's Final Budget Outcome report, in kina.
Who governs Papua New Guinea's regions?
Provincial level (22: 20 provinces, the National Capital District and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville): Provincial assembly made up of the province's national MPs, LLG heads and appointed members (including a woman and chiefs' representatives where relevant); the provincial MP is governor. Provincial services and planning. Bougainville has its own constitution, president and House of Representatives.
How local power works in Papua New Guinea · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 22 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morobe | 997,545 | 2024 | +3.0% |
| 2 | Eastern Highlands | 800,072 | 2024 | +2.5% |
| 3 | Madang | 761,154 | 2024 | +3.4% |
| 4 | National Capital District | 756,754 | 2024 | +5.7% |
| 5 | East Sepik | 631,791 | 2024 | +2.6% |
| 6 | Southern Highlands | 602,085 | 2024 | +1.3% |
| 7 | Enga | 489,971 | 2024 | +1.0% |
| 8 | Western Highlands | 462,566 | 2024 | +1.9% |
| 9 | Chimbu | 458,406 | 2024 | +1.5% |
| 10 | Jiwaka | 455,208 | 2024 | +2.2% |
| 11 | East New Britain | 434,757 | 2024 | +2.2% |
| 12 | Milne Bay | 412,158 | 2024 | +3.1% |
| 13 | Central Province | 373,779 | 2024 | +2.5% |
| 14 | West New Britain | 368,643 | 2024 | +2.6% |
| 15 | Autonomous Region of Bougainville | 367,093 | 2024 | +3.0% |
| 16 | Hela | 365,806 | 2024 | +3.0% |
| 17 | West Sepik | 362,721 | 2024 | +2.9% |
| 18 | Western Province | 300,019 | 2024 | +3.1% |
| 19 | Northern Province | 273,950 | 2024 | +3.0% |
| 20 | New Ireland | 237,780 | 2024 | +1.6% |
| 21 | Gulf Province | 203,545 | 2024 | +2.0% |
| 22 | Manus | 69,560 | 2024 | +1.1% |
More on Papua New Guinea: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea: 2024 National Population Census Final Figures, Table 1: population by sex, sex ratio and province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6b6dd58c761a…)
- National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea (with ICF, The DHS Program): Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey 2016-18, Tables 3.6.1 and 3.6.2: employment status of women and men age 15-49 by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 051ea8481cf8…)
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