Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate (2026)
Papua New Guinea has a resource-rich Pacific economy supported by mining, liquefied natural gas, agriculture, and services. This page explores its GDP growth trend, historical performance, regional position, and outlook.
GDP Growth Rate 2026
+3.8%
Annual real GDP growth
World Rank
#64
Out of 195 countries
Change vs 2025
-1.9 pp
2025: +5.6%
Oceania Rank
#1
Out of 14 countries
1. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate in 2026
Economic growth is strongly influenced by mining, energy projects, commodity prices, investment, and agricultural production. Infrastructure and political stability also remain important.
2. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate Trends (1980–2026)
The country’s growth history has been shaped by large resource projects, commodity cycles, and uneven development. Extractive industries have dominated major changes in output.
3. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate (Historical Data)
| Year | GDP Growth Rate | Change (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +3.8% | -1.9 pp |
| 2025 | +5.6% | +1.7 pp |
| 2024 | +3.9% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | +3.8% | -1.9 pp |
| 2022 | +5.7% | +6.2 pp |
| 2021 | -0.5% | +2.7 pp |
| 2020 | -3.2% | -7.7 pp |
| 2019 | +4.5% | +4.8 pp |
| 2018 | -0.3% | -3.8 pp |
| 2017 | +3.5% | -2.0 pp |
| 2016 | +5.5% | -1.1 pp |
| 2015 | +6.6% | -6.9 pp |
| 2014 | +13.5% | +9.7 pp |
| 2013 | +3.8% | -0.9 pp |
| 2012 | +4.7% | +3.6 pp |
| 2011 | +1.1% | -9.0 pp |
| 2010 | +10.1% | +3.3 pp |
| 2009 | +6.8% | +7.1 pp |
| 2008 | -0.3% | -8.1 pp |
| 2007 | +7.8% | +5.3 pp |
| 2006 | +2.5% | -1.8 pp |
| 2005 | +4.3% | +3.7 pp |
| 2004 | +0.6% | -8.4 pp |
| 2003 | +9.0% | +9.2 pp |
| 2002 | -0.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 2001 | -0.1% | +2.4 pp |
| 2000 | -2.5% | -4.4 pp |
| 1999 | +1.9% | -2.8 pp |
| 1998 | +4.7% | +11.0 pp |
| 1997 | -6.3% | -12.9 pp |
| 1996 | +6.6% | +10.0 pp |
| 1995 | -3.4% | -13.9 pp |
| 1994 | +10.5% | -2.8 pp |
| 1993 | +13.3% | -0.5 pp |
| 1992 | +13.8% | +4.2 pp |
| 1991 | +9.6% | +12.7 pp |
| 1990 | -3.1% | -1.7 pp |
| 1989 | -1.4% | -4.3 pp |
| 1988 | +2.9% | +0.1 pp |
| 1987 | +2.8% | -2.9 pp |
| 1986 | +5.7% | +2.1 pp |
| 1985 | +3.6% | +4.6 pp |
| 1984 | -1.0% | -4.4 pp |
| 1983 | +3.4% | +2.6 pp |
| 1982 | +0.8% | -0.3 pp |
| 1981 | +1.1% | +3.4 pp |
| 1980 | -2.3% | — |
4. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Performance
Current Growth Rate
+3.8%
(2026 to 2026)
5-Year Average
+4.6%
(2022 to 2026)
10-Year Average
+2.7%
(2017 to 2026)
20-Year Average
+4.3%
(2007 to 2026)
The economy benefits from substantial mineral and energy resources, but weak infrastructure and limited economic diversification constrain broad-based growth.
5. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate vs Oceania and World
Papua New Guinea
+3.8%
Oceania Average
+2.7%
World Average
+2.8%
0.0%
1.9%
3.8%
Annual real GDP growth (%)
Papua New Guinea’s GDP growth rate is approximately
1.1 pp
above the
Oceania average
and
0.9 pp
above the world average.
6. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate Ranking in Oceania
| Rank | Country | GDP Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Papua New Guinea | +3.8% |
| #2 | Marshall Islands | +3.7% |
| #3 | Vanuatu | +3.5% |
| #4 | Palau | +3.3% |
| #5 | Samoa | +3.2% |
| #6 | Kiribati | +3.1% |
| #7 | Solomon Islands | +2.8% |
| #8 | Tuvalu | +2.5% |
| #9 | Fiji | +2.4% |
7. Top 10 Fastest-Growing Countries in the World (2026)
8. GDP Growth Rate and Economy Size in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea GDP (Nominal)
$34.4 Billion
(2026)
Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate
+3.8%
(2026)
Papua New Guinea’s growth can be more volatile than the regional average because major resource projects have a large impact on national output.
Explore more:
Papua New Guinea GDP
9. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate Forecast
The outlook depends on mining, LNG projects, investment, infrastructure, and commodity markets. Governance and project execution remain important risks.
| Year | GDP Growth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | +3.8% | +0.0 pp |
| 2028 | +3.2% | -0.6 pp |
| 2029 | +3.1% | -0.1 pp |
| 2030 | +3.1% | 0.0 pp |
10. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate: Key Findings
Papua New Guinea GDP growth rate is estimated at +3.8% in 2026.
It ranks #64 globally and #1 in Oceania by annual GDP growth rate.
The growth rate slowed by 1.9 percentage points compared with 2025.
The 5-year average GDP growth rate is +4.6%.
The 10-year average GDP growth rate is +2.7%.
The current rate is 1.1 percentage points above the Oceania average.
The current rate is 0.9 percentage points above the world average.
The forecast GDP growth rate is +3.1% in 2030, 0.7 percentage points below the 2026 rate.
11. What Is GDP Growth Rate?
GDP growth rate measures the percentage change in a country’s real gross domestic product from one period to the next, usually year over year.
GDP Growth Rate
=
(Real GDPₜ − Real GDPₜ₋₁)
÷
Real GDPₜ₋₁ × 100
A positive rate indicates economic expansion, while a negative rate indicates contraction. Real GDP growth is preferred for growth comparisons because it adjusts for price changes.
12. Methodology and Data Sources
Primary Source:
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Additional Source:
World Bank
Measure:
Annual percentage change in real GDP
Unit:
Percent (%)
Comparisons:
Year-to-year rate differences are shown in percentage points (pp)
Update Frequency:
Annually and when new forecasts are released
Last Updated:
November 2026
13. Papua New Guinea GDP Growth Rate FAQs
Papua New Guinea GDP growth rate is estimated at +3.8% in 2026.
Papua New Guinea ranks #64 globally and #1 in Oceania by annual GDP growth rate.
The economy is expanding, with real GDP growth of approximately +3.8% in 2026.
Papua New Guinea GDP growth rate was +6.6% in 2015.
Papua New Guinea GDP growth rate is 1.1 percentage points above the Oceania average.
15. Explore GDP Growth Rate
Disclaimer:
All data are estimates based on IMF, World Bank,
United Nations and related economic datasets.
Figures may differ from official national statistics.