Urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Urban area over the long-term was 168.91 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
168.91 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
156th
of 202 countries
All-time high
168.91 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0001 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea is 168.91 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea peaked at 168.91 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Papua New Guinea 156th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | +214.3% |
| 1200 | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | +214.3% |
| 1300 | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | +214.3% |
| 1400 | 0.012 km² per grid cell | +214.3% |
| 1500 | 0.0378 km² per grid cell | +214.2% |
| 1600 | 0.1185 km² per grid cell | +213.5% |
| 1700 | 0.3626 km² per grid cell | +205.9% |
| 1710 | 0.1632 km² per grid cell | -55.0% |
| 1720 | 0.1894 km² per grid cell | +16.1% |
| 1730 | 0.2195 km² per grid cell | +15.9% |
| 1740 | 0.254 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1750 | 0.2933 km² per grid cell | +15.5% |
| 1760 | 0.338 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1770 | 0.3885 km² per grid cell | +15.0% |
| 1780 | 0.4455 km² per grid cell | +14.7% |
| 1790 | 0.5095 km² per grid cell | +14.4% |
| 1800 | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1810 | 0.6609 km² per grid cell | +13.7% |
| 1820 | 0.7496 km² per grid cell | +13.4% |
| 1830 | 0.8478 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1840 | 0.9563 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1850 | 1.08 km² per grid cell | +12.5% |
| 1860 | 1.21 km² per grid cell | +12.3% |
| 1870 | 1.35 km² per grid cell | +11.9% |
| 1880 | 1.51 km² per grid cell | +11.7% |
| 1890 | 1.69 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1900 | 1.88 km² per grid cell | +11.5% |
| 1910 | 2.09 km² per grid cell | +11.4% |
| 1920 | 2.47 km² per grid cell | +18.1% |
| 1930 | 2.92 km² per grid cell | +18.2% |
| 1940 | 3.45 km² per grid cell | +18.2% |
| 1950 | 4.09 km² per grid cell | +18.4% |
| 1951 | 4.46 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1952 | 4.87 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1953 | 5.31 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1954 | 5.8 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1955 | 6.34 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1956 | 6.92 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1957 | 7.57 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1958 | 8.27 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1959 | 9.05 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1960 | 9.91 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1961 | 10.85 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1962 | 11.89 km² per grid cell | +9.6% |
| 1963 | 13.03 km² per grid cell | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 14.29 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1965 | 15.67 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1966 | 17.19 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1967 | 19.89 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1968 | 22.99 km² per grid cell | +15.6% |
| 1969 | 26.56 km² per grid cell | +15.5% |
| 1970 | 30.64 km² per grid cell | +15.4% |
| 1971 | 35.21 km² per grid cell | +14.9% |
| 1972 | 36.5 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 37.79 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 39.11 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 40.46 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 41.83 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 43.22 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 44.67 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 46.2 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 47.84 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 49.66 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 51.55 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 53.54 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 55.61 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 57.74 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 59.92 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 62.17 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 64.5 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 66.92 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 69.43 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 70.25 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 71.04 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 71.84 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 72.66 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 73.51 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 74.38 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 75.27 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 76.17 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 77.06 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 77.93 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 79.73 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 81.52 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 83.3 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 85.07 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 86.82 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 88.7 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 90.57 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 92.42 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 94.27 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 96.11 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 100.12 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 104.2 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 106.34 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 112.58 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 116.88 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 121.24 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 125.67 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 130.18 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 134.75 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 139.39 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 145.11 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 150.92 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 156.83 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 162.82 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 168.91 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 168.91 km² per grid cell is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 20% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 168.91 km² per grid cell is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 18% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +214.3% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +214.3% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +214.3% | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +214.3% | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.012 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +214.2% | 0.012 km² per grid cell | 0.0378 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +213.5% | 0.0378 km² per grid cell | 0.1185 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 0.0012 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.012 km² per grid cell | 0.012 km² per grid cell | 0.012 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0378 km² per grid cell | 0.0378 km² per grid cell | 0.0378 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.1185 km² per grid cell | 0.1185 km² per grid cell | 0.1185 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.3626 km² per grid cell | 0.3626 km² per grid cell | 0.3626 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.1632 km² per grid cell | 0.1632 km² per grid cell | 0.1632 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.1894 km² per grid cell | 0.1894 km² per grid cell | 0.1894 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.2195 km² per grid cell | 0.2195 km² per grid cell | 0.2195 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.254 km² per grid cell | 0.254 km² per grid cell | 0.254 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.2933 km² per grid cell | 0.2933 km² per grid cell | 0.2933 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.338 km² per grid cell | 0.338 km² per grid cell | 0.338 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.3885 km² per grid cell | 0.3885 km² per grid cell | 0.3885 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.4455 km² per grid cell | 0.4455 km² per grid cell | 0.4455 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.5095 km² per grid cell | 0.5095 km² per grid cell | 0.5095 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 0.5811 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.6609 km² per grid cell | 0.6609 km² per grid cell | 0.6609 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.7496 km² per grid cell | 0.7496 km² per grid cell | 0.7496 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.8478 km² per grid cell | 0.8478 km² per grid cell | 0.8478 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.9563 km² per grid cell | 0.9563 km² per grid cell | 0.9563 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.35 km² per grid cell | 1.35 km² per grid cell | 1.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.51 km² per grid cell | 1.51 km² per grid cell | 1.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.88 km² per grid cell | 1.88 km² per grid cell | 1.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.09 km² per grid cell | 2.09 km² per grid cell | 2.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.47 km² per grid cell | 2.47 km² per grid cell | 2.47 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 2.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 3.45 km² per grid cell | 3.45 km² per grid cell | 3.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 6.27 km² per grid cell | 4.09 km² per grid cell | 9.05 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.23 km² per grid cell | 9.91 km² per grid cell | 26.56 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 39.56 km² per grid cell | 30.64 km² per grid cell | 46.2 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.94 km² per grid cell | 47.84 km² per grid cell | 66.92 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.16 km² per grid cell | 69.43 km² per grid cell | 77.06 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.03 km² per grid cell | 77.93 km² per grid cell | 94.27 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 114.81 km² per grid cell | 96.11 km² per grid cell | 134.75 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 154 km² per grid cell | 139.39 km² per grid cell | 168.91 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More reference data data for Papua New Guinea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3515 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0007 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3515 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6846 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.5295 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2811 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0038 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea?
- Urban area over the long-term in Papua New Guinea was 168.91 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 168.91 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 156th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.