Papua New Guinea — GDP growth
GDP Growth (Annual %) for Papua New Guinea, 1961–2025.
GDP growth for Papua New Guinea was 5.64% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 18.20% in 1993. The lowest was -3.90% in 1997 (about -1.4× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.14% per year.
Papua New Guinea ranks 41 of 212 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 19%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 3.62%, so Papua New Guinea sits above it. It peaked in 1993 and has fallen 69% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 14%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 6 of 36 economies; Cambodia (5.35%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 2394% in 2009. That is 76% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1961 level: doubled by 1992.
World ranking. Slipped: 34th of 107 in 1961 → 18th of 119 in 1970 → 126th of 152 in 1980 → 153rd of 176 in 1990 → 191st of 199 in 2000 → 12th of 209 in 2010 → 90th of 209 in 2020 → 37th of 186 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.64% | +1.7 pp |
| 2024 | 3.89% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 3.81% | -1.9 pp |
| 2022 | 5.71% | +6.2 pp |
| 2021 | -0.51% | +2.7 pp |
| 2020 | -3.17% | -7.6 pp |
| 2019 | 4.48% | +4.8 pp |
| 2018 | -0.28% | -3.8 pp |
| 2017 | 3.53% | -2.0 pp |
| 2016 | 5.49% | -1.1 pp |
| 2015 | 6.58% | -7.0 pp |
| 2014 | 13.54% | +9.7 pp |
| 2013 | 3.82% | -0.8 pp |
| 2012 | 4.66% | +3.5 pp |
| 2011 | 1.11% | -9.0 pp |
| 2010 | 10.13% | +3.3 pp |
| 2009 | 6.8% | +7.1 pp |
| 2008 | -0.3% | -8.1 pp |
| 2007 | 7.82% | +2.4 pp |
| 2006 | 5.41% | -0.9 pp |
| 2005 | 6.34% | +3.6 pp |
| 2004 | 2.72% | +0.6 pp |
| 2003 | 2.16% | +2.3 pp |
| 2002 | -0.16% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | -0.12% | +2.4 pp |
| 2000 | -2.49% | -4.4 pp |
| 1999 | 1.86% | +5.6 pp |
| 1998 | -3.77% | +0.1 pp |
| 1997 | -3.9% | -11.6 pp |
| 1996 | 7.73% | +11.0 pp |
| 1995 | -3.31% | -9.3 pp |
| 1994 | 5.94% | -12.3 pp |
| 1993 | 18.2% | +4.4 pp |
| 1992 | 13.85% | +4.3 pp |
| 1991 | 9.55% | +12.6 pp |
| 1990 | -3.01% | -1.6 pp |
| 1989 | -1.42% | -4.3 pp |
| 1988 | 2.91% | +0.1 pp |
| 1987 | 2.77% | -1.9 pp |
| 1986 | 4.69% | +0.7 pp |
| 1985 | 4% | +4.4 pp |
| 1984 | -0.35% | -3.6 pp |
| 1983 | 3.22% | +2.9 pp |
| 1982 | 0.35% | +0.6 pp |
| 1981 | -0.27% | +2.0 pp |
| 1980 | -2.3% | -4.1 pp |
| 1979 | 1.83% | -6.7 pp |
| 1978 | 8.55% | +7.7 pp |
| 1977 | 0.83% | +4.2 pp |
| 1976 | -3.39% | -2.5 pp |
| 1975 | -0.88% | -3.5 pp |
| 1974 | 2.61% | -3.9 pp |
| 1973 | 6.53% | +0.9 pp |
| 1972 | 5.64% | -0.7 pp |
| 1971 | 6.3% | -4.5 pp |
| 1970 | 10.84% | +2.6 pp |
| 1969 | 8.27% | +3.9 pp |
| 1968 | 4.36% | +0.3 pp |
| 1967 | 4.07% | -1.7 pp |
| 1966 | 5.81% | -4.5 pp |
| 1965 | 10.27% | +1.7 pp |
| 1964 | 8.57% | +4.5 pp |
| 1963 | 4.07% | -2.3 pp |
| 1962 | 6.37% | +0.2 pp |
| 1961 | 6.18% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Papua New Guinea’s GDP growth in 1962?
6.37% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Papua New Guinea’s GDP growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -8.8% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 5.64%; 2024: 3.89%; 2023: 3.81%; 2022: 5.71%; 2021: -0.51%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG — GDP Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.