Largest population
Papua New Guinea has 10,947,848 people in the 2026 medium projection.
Melanesia population pyramid 2026
13,383,874 people in 2026 (projected), a UN subregion of Oceania with 5 countries and areas.
- 2026 population
- 13.4Mmedium projection
- Median age
- 23.3 years
- Under age 15
- 32.4%
- Age 65+
- 4.1%
Melanesia population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Medium projection
Melanesia population pyramid for 2026: males on the left and females on the right
100+
95–99
90–94
85–89
80–84
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0–4
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Estimate or projection?
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Melanesia age structure
In 2026, children under 15 make up 32.4% of Melanesia’s projected population, compared with 4.1% aged 65 or older. The conventional working-age group, 15–64, accounts for 63.4%.
By 2050, the medium scenario places the population at 18,090,929—a 35% increase from 2026. The 65+ share is projected to reach 7.8%.
Births, deaths, and migration in Melanesia
The subregion is projected to record 309,505 births and 89,509 deaths in 2026, a natural increase of 219,996, with net migration of −2,114. Births outnumber deaths in every remaining year of the medium scenario through 2100. Between 2000 and 2023, cumulative net migration was +599,488.
Annual values; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection.
Mid-year population for every year; the medium scenario reaches 18.1M in 2050.
Demographic contrasts within Melanesia
A regional pyramid is an aggregate, not a description of every country. The profiles within Melanesia range from a median age of 20.3 years in Vanuatu to 34.8 years in New Caledonia. Those age structures imply different balances of schools, working-age cohorts, and older-age services.
Youngest median age
Vanuatu has a median age of 20.3 years and 37.6% under 15.
Fastest 2026 growth
Solomon Islands has projected annual growth of +2.3%.
Countries and areas in Melanesia
| Rank | Country or area | 2026 population | Median age | Under 15 | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea | 10,947,848 | 23.0 | 32.8% | 3.7% |
| 2 | Fiji | 937,282 | 28.3 | 26.6% | 6.8% |
| 3 | Solomon Islands | 858,288 | 20.9 | 36.1% | 3.7% |
| 4 | Vanuatu | 342,564 | 20.3 | 37.6% | 4.5% |
| 5 | New Caledonia | 297,892 | 34.8 | 20.9% | 12.1% |
Source and interpretation
Regional age groups and totals come directly from the UN WPP 2024 medium series. Country groupings follow the UN M49 regions and subregions used in the source; territories and statistical areas may appear separately. Projection results depend on future fertility, mortality, and migration assumptions.
Questions about Melanesia
What is the population of Melanesia in 2026?
The UN WPP 2024 medium scenario projects Melanesia's 2026 population at 13,383,874.
Which is the most populous country or area in Melanesia?
Papua New Guinea is the largest profile in this regional directory, with a projected 2026 population of 10,947,848.
Is Melanesia's population projected to grow by 2050?
The medium scenario shows a 35.2% increase between 2026 and 2050.