Largest Cities in Papua New Guinea

Top 28 cities ranked by largest cities

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · Papua New Guinea

Largest Cities — Papua New Guinea

1 Port Moresby 20 283,733

2 Lae 14 76,255

3 Arawa 07 40,266

4 Mount Hagen 16 33,623

5 Popondetta 04 28,198

6 Madang 12 27,419

7 Kokopo 10 26,273

8 Mendi 05 26,252

9 Kimbe 17 18,847

10 Goroka 09 18,503

11 Wewak 11 18,230

12 Bulolo 14 16,042

13 Daru 06 15,214

14 Wau 14 14,629

15 Kavieng 15 14,490

16 Kiunga 06 11,536

17 Vanimo 18 11,204

18 Tabubil 06 10,270

19 Alotau 03 10,025

20 Kundiawa 08 9,383

21 Kainantu 09 8,509

22 Tari 21 8,186

23 Rabaul 10 8,074

24 Ialibu 05 6,915

25 Kokoda 04 6,199

26 Lorengau 13 5,806

27 Kerema 02 5,646

28 Aitape 18 5,547

The largest cities in Papua New Guinea represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Port Moresby leads with a population of 283,733, followed by Lae and Arawa. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. The top 10 cities span multiple states, showing that urban growth is distributed across different regions.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

1. Port Moresby's population is larger than that of many small nations.
2. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 462,075.

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