Updated
Overview
Indonesia has 27 times the population of Papua New Guinea: 285.72 million people against 10.76 million (2025).
Indonesia's economy is 44 times the size of Papua New Guinea's, at $1.45T versus $32.50B.
Per person, Indonesia is the wealthier of the two: $5,060 against $3,020 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Indonesia | Papua New Guinea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.45T | $32.50B | 2025 | $1.40T / $32.54B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $5,060 | $3,020 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.1% | Higher: 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.9% | 4.4% | 2025 | 3.7% / 0.6% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | Lower: 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $182 | — | 2023 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $320 | $189 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.38 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 285.72 million | 10.76 million | 2025 | 283.59 million / 10.27 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.4 yrs | 22.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.10 | 3.03 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 71.3 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 59% | 16% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 73% | 19% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,904,569 km² | 462,840 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 150.0/km² | 23.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 812 Mt | Lower: 8.35 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 2.9 t | Lower: 0.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $11.04B | $91.01M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.8% | 0.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 676,000 | 4,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Papua New Guinea is growing faster: 5.6% annual GDP growth versus 5.1%.
Papua New Guinea runs the hotter price environment: 4.4% inflation versus 1.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Indonesia: a price level of 29 versus 58 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Papua New Guinea is the younger society: median age 22.8 versus 30.4 years.
Life expectancy is 5.0 years longer in Indonesia (71.3 vs 66.3).
Indonesia is considerably more urbanized: 59% of people live in cities, against 16%.
Internet adoption is higher in Indonesia (73% vs 19% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Indonesia is 4.1 times the size of Papua New Guinea: 1,904,569 km² versus 462,840 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Indonesia is far more densely settled: 150 people per km² against 23.
Military
Indonesia spends 121 times as much on defence as Papua New Guinea: $11.04B versus $91.01M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Indonesia fields the larger armed forces: 676,000 personnel against 4,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Indonesia bigger than Papua New Guinea?
- Indonesia is larger by land area. Indonesia covers 1,904,569 km² while Papua New Guinea covers 462,840 km², so Indonesia is 4.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Indonesia or Papua New Guinea?
- Indonesia has the larger population: 285.72 million versus 10.76 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Indonesia richer than Papua New Guinea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Indonesia is richer: $5,060 against $3,020. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.45T for Indonesia versus $32.50B for Papua New Guinea.
- Who spends more on their military, Indonesia or Papua New Guinea?
- Indonesia spends more: $11.04B versus $91.01M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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