Papua New Guinea Districts with the Largest Populations
Districts of Papua New Guinea: List of Provinces and Population
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries in the Pacific. Its administrative structure extends from provinces and districts to Local-Level Governments (LLGs), wards and census units.
The 2024 National Population Census provides the latest official population figures for Papua New Guinea. The census counted 10,185,363 people, including 5,336,546 males and 4,848,817 females. The census geography covered 22 provinces, 98 districts, 369 LLGs and more than 6,400 wards.
Papua New Guinea at a glance
Variable
Figure
Country
Papua New Guinea
Capital
Port Moresby
Province-level divisions
22
Districts
98
Local-Level Governments
369
2024 population
10,185,363
Male population
5,336,546
Female population
4,848,817
Average annual population growth, 2011–2024
2.6%
Crude population density
22 people/km²
The National Statistical Office says the 2024 Census reference night was 16 June 2024, although field counting continued into October because of the country’s difficult communications and transport conditions.
Regions of Papua New Guinea
For broad geographical and administrative purposes, Papua New Guinea is commonly divided into four regions:
Southern Region
Highlands Region
Momase Region
Islands Region
The 2024 Census recorded the following regional populations:
Region
2024 population
Highlands
3,634,114
Momase
2,753,211
Southern
2,320,205
Islands
1,477,833
Papua New Guinea
10,185,363
The Highlands therefore accounted for the largest share of the national population.
Southern Region
The Southern Region includes Central, Gulf, Milne Bay, Northern, Western, Southern Highlands and the National Capital District.
Central Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Abau
68,112
36,321
31,791
Goilala
47,478
25,351
22,127
Kairuku
77,035
40,847
36,188
Rigo
74,935
39,685
35,250
Hiri-Koiari
106,219
56,673
49,546
Province total
373,779
198,877
174,902
The Department of Finance currently identifies the district centres as Kupiano for Abau, Tapini for Goilala, Bereina for Kairuku, Kwikila for Rigo and Koiari for Hiri-Koiari. (finance.gov.pg)
Gulf Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Kerema
127,265
67,255
60,010
Kikori
76,280
39,693
36,587
Province total
203,545
106,948
96,597
Kerema is the larger of the two districts by population.
Milne Bay Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Alotau
149,806
79,618
70,188
Esa’ala
85,420
44,929
40,491
Kiriwina-Goodenough
94,002
48,759
45,243
Samarai-Murua
82,930
43,679
39,251
Province total
412,158
216,985
195,173
The Department of Finance records seven LLGs in Alotau, three in Esa’ala, two in Kiriwina-Goodenough and four in Samarai-Murua. (finance.gov.pg)
National Capital District
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Moresby North-East
285,227
153,077
132,150
Moresby North-West
282,181
149,166
133,015
Moresby South
189,346
101,048
88,298
NCD total
756,754
403,291
353,463
Moresby North-East was the largest NCD district by population in the 2024 Census. The National Capital District had a population density of 2,653 people per km², by far the highest provincial-level density reported in the census.
Northern Province (Oro)
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Ijivitari
55,198
29,240
25,958
Popondetta
100,643
53,290
47,353
Sohe
118,109
62,096
56,013
Province total
273,950
144,626
129,324
The Department of Finance lists Kokoda as the district centre for Sohe and Popondetta as the centre for both Ijivitari and Popondetta. (finance.gov.pg)
Western Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Delta Fly
76,097
39,552
36,545
Middle Fly
39,676
20,516
19,160
North Fly
102,633
53,839
48,794
South Fly
81,613
42,696
38,917
Province total
300,019
156,603
143,416
The 2024 Census includes Delta Fly as a district, which is an important reason the current census structure should be used rather than relying solely on older lists. The Department of Finance currently lists Balimo for Middle Fly, Kiunga for North Fly and Daru for South Fly.
Southern Highlands Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Ialibu/Pangia
78,409
40,573
37,836
Imbonggu
94,437
48,195
46,242
Kagua/Erave
96,521
50,626
45,895
Mendi/Munihu
167,052
86,837
80,215
Nipa/Kutubu
165,666
85,149
80,517
Province total
602,085
311,380
290,705
Mendi/Munihu had the largest population in the province in 2024.
Highlands Region
The Highlands Region comprises Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Enga, Hela, Jiwaka, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands.
Chimbu Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Chuave
55,214
28,879
26,335
Gumine
55,207
29,315
25,892
Karimui
72,319
38,645
33,674
Kerowagi
95,690
50,915
44,775
Kundiawa/Gembogl
112,921
59,515
53,406
Sinasina Yongomugl
67,055
35,394
31,661
Province total
458,406
242,663
215,743
The 2024 Census uses Karimui and Kundiawa/Gembogl, while Department of Finance material uses Karamui Nomane and Kundiawa Gembogl.
Eastern Highlands Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Daulo
58,789
31,211
27,578
Goroka
163,401
85,262
78,139
Henganofi
85,800
44,615
41,185
Kainantu
162,338
84,751
77,587
Lufa
70,359
36,540
33,819
Obura/Wonenara
57,974
29,975
27,999
Okapa
91,145
47,313
43,832
Unggai-Benna
110,266
57,606
52,660
Province total
800,072
417,273
382,799
Goroka was the largest district by population. The Department of Finance provides district-centre and LLG information for all eight districts.
Enga Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Kandep
64,425
32,887
31,538
Kompiam/Ambum
51,978
26,843
25,135
Lagaip
76,203
40,007
36,196
Pogera Paiela
143,601
78,117
65,484
Wabag
88,237
45,398
42,839
Wapenamanda
65,527
33,334
32,193
Province total
489,971
256,586
233,385
Pogera Paiela was Enga’s largest district in the 2024 Census. The current Department of Finance page also confirms Wapenamanda and Lagaip as districts, bringing the current Enga total to six.
Hela Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Komo Hulia
77,114
41,050
36,064
Koroba Kopiago
130,425
69,892
60,533
Magarima
56,186
29,085
27,101
Tari/Pori
102,081
54,735
47,346
Province total
365,806
194,762
171,044
Koroba Kopiago had the largest population in Hela in 2024. The Department of Finance confirms Komo Hulia, Koroba Kopiago, Magarima and Tari Pori as the four districts.
Jiwaka Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Anglimp/South Waghi
281,824
146,328
135,496
Jimi
77,744
41,608
36,136
North Waghi
95,640
49,115
46,525
Province total
455,208
237,051
218,157
Anglimp/South Waghi is by far the largest district in Jiwaka by population. The Department of Finance lists Minj, Tabibuga and Banz as its respective district centres.
Western Highlands Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Dei
91,051
46,490
44,561
Hagen Central
160,914
84,205
76,709
Mul/Baiyer
110,252
55,920
54,332
Tambul/Nebilyer
100,349
50,967
49,382
Province total
462,566
237,582
224,984
Hagen Central had the largest population among Western Highlands districts.
Momase Region
The Momase Region consists of Madang, Morobe, East Sepik and West Sepik.
Morobe Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Bulolo
95,760
50,835
44,925
Finschafen
73,629
38,392
35,237
Huon Gulf
124,505
66,166
58,339
Kabwum
55,423
27,811
27,612
Lae
203,056
109,173
93,883
Markham
93,917
48,950
44,967
Menyamya
119,809
61,976
57,833
Nawae
57,372
30,509
26,863
Tawae/Siassi
73,452
38,525
34,927
Wau/Waria
100,622
54,168
46,454
Province total
997,545
526,505
471,040
Lae was Morobe’s largest district, with more than 200,000 people in the 2024 Census. The current Department of Finance lists nine administrative districts, while the Census also reports Wau/Waria, producing ten census districts in its 2024 table.
Madang Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Bogia
106,780
56,294
50,486
Madang
175,289
92,169
83,120
Middle Ramu
131,610
68,427
63,183
Rai Coast
127,949
68,305
59,644
Sumkar
121,254
64,284
56,970
Usino Bundi
98,272
52,406
45,866
Province total
761,154
401,885
359,269
Madang district recorded the largest population in the province.
East Sepik Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Ambunti/Drekikier
109,593
56,461
53,132
Angoram
133,211
69,261
63,950
Maprik
100,367
50,472
49,895
Wewak
123,329
61,964
61,365
Wosera Gawi
90,203
45,931
44,272
Yangoru Saussia
75,088
37,504
37,584
Province total
631,791
321,593
310,198
Angoram was the most populous East Sepik district in the 2024 Census. The Department of Finance confirms all six districts and provides their LLG structures.
West Sepik (Sandaun) Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Aitape Lumi
103,360
53,758
49,602
Nuku
83,568
43,094
40,474
Telefomin
63,479
32,945
30,534
Vanimo Green River
112,314
59,537
52,777
Province total
362,721
189,334
173,387
Vanimo Green River had the largest population among the province’s four districts.
Islands Region
The Islands Region comprises Manus, New Ireland, East New Britain, West New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Manus Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Manus
69,560
36,232
33,328
Province total
69,560
36,232
33,328
Manus is the only district in Manus Province in the 2024 Census. The Department of Finance identifies Lorengau as the district centre.
New Ireland Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Kavieng
99,625
52,753
46,872
Namatanai
138,155
72,881
65,274
Province total
237,780
125,634
112,146
Namatanai was the larger of the two districts.
East New Britain Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Gazelle
174,601
90,750
83,851
Kokopo
106,217
54,523
51,694
Pomio
104,678
55,382
49,296
Rabaul
49,261
25,424
23,837
Province total
434,757
226,079
208,678
Gazelle was the most populous district in East New Britain. The Department of Finance confirms the four districts and their LLG structures.
West New Britain Province
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Kandrian/Gloucester
109,028
57,426
51,602
Nakanai
159,530
84,939
74,591
Talasea
100,085
52,815
47,270
Province total
368,643
195,180
173,463
Nakanai had the largest population in West New Britain in the 2024 Census. The current Department of Finance lists Kandrian, Talasea and Nakanai as the province’s districts.
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
District
2024 population
Male
Female
Central Bougainville
98,067
50,934
47,133
North Bougainville
153,530
78,693
74,837
South Bougainville
115,496
59,850
55,646
Region total
367,093
189,477
177,616
North Bougainville was the most populous of the three Bougainville districts in 2024. Bougainville has autonomous status within Papua New Guinea.
Which Papua New Guinea districts have the largest populations?
The 2024 Census makes it possible to identify some of the country’s largest districts.
Rank
District
Province
2024 population
1
Anglimp/South Waghi
Jiwaka
281,824
2
Moresby North-East
National Capital District
285,227
3
Moresby North-West
National Capital District
282,181
4
Lae
Morobe
203,056
5
Mendi
Southern Highlands
167,052
6
Hagen Central
Western Highlands
160,914
7
Kainantu
Eastern Highlands
162,338
8
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
163,401
9
Nipa/Kutubu
Southern Highlands
165,666
10
Gazelle
East New Britain
174,601
Note: The ranking above uses the 2024 Census district names and figures. The Census reports Moresby North-East at 285,227, Moresby North-West at 282,181 and Anglimp/South Waghi at 281,824.
What the district population figures tells
The 2024 Census shows considerable differences in population size between Papua New Guinea’s districts.
The National Capital District is particularly dense, with 756,754 people recorded across its three districts. By comparison, Manus Province has a total population of only 69,560.
The Highlands also contain several very large districts. Eastern Highlands recorded 800,072 people, while Southern Highlands had 602,085, Western Highlands 462,566, Chimbu 458,406 and Jiwaka 455,208.
Morobe was the most populous province in the 2024 Census, with 997,545 people, followed by Eastern Highlands with 800,072, Madang with 761,154, and the National Capital District with 756,754.
District, province and LLG: what is the difference?
Understanding the terminology is important when using PNG administrative data.
Province
A province is a major administrative division of Papua New Guinea. The country has 22 province-level divisions, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the National Capital District.
District
A district is an administrative subdivision within a province or province-level division. Districts are important for government administration, development planning, public finance and service delivery.
Local-Level Government
A Local-Level Government, or LLG, is a further administrative subdivision of a district.
The Department of Finance explains that districts contain one or more LLG areas, which are further divided into wards and census units.
The 2024 Census counted 369 LLGs across 98 districts.
Variable
Description
District
District name
Province
Province or province-level administration
Region
Southern, Highlands, Momase or Islands
2024 population
Official 2024 Census population
Male population
Number of males counted
Female population
Number of females counted
Sex ratio
Males per 100 females
District centre
Administrative centre
Number of LLGs
Local-Level Governments in the district
Area
Land area, where an official district figure is available
Population density
Population per square kilometre
Main economic activities
Agriculture, mining, fisheries, forestry, services, etc.
Major towns
Important urban and commercial centres
Geographic features
Mountains, rivers, islands, coastline and other features
Papua New Guinea’s districts provide an important framework for understanding the country’s population, geography and government administration.
The latest 2024 National Population Census counted 10.19 million people across 98 districts and 369 Local-Level Governments. The population is unevenly distributed, with major concentrations in the Highlands, Port Moresby, Morobe and other major urban and agricultural areas.
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