The recent announcement of the country’s latest census result was well received especially for its successful completion given the challenges faced, but what it revealed showed a scary situation that Papua New Guinea (PNG) is currently in.

Prime Minister (PM) James Marape took the podium at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby city on the evening of Thursday 30th October, where in front of staff and management of the National Statistical Office, partners and stakeholders, plainly stated that PNG needs to decisively control its population growth for the sake of better service delivery to the people.

The 2024 National Census result revealed PNG’s human population at 10,185,363.

“I think it is about time we converse on population control; birth control,” said Prime Mister Marape.

“To parents, it is a very expensive exercise to raise children. One child, two children may be enough, but with three, you're pushing the limit.”

Marape then urged the young people that if they plan to have a family, couples must consider the economy and make decisions on having children, especially when the economy is not in its best form fueled by issues in the world economy.

“So, I want to propose a conversation on birth control and population control. Limiting the children to maybe two or three (to a family),” said Marape, stating that such conversations must be held in parliament, churches, in communities and at the family unit.

The prime minister’s concern stems from the fact that the country’s population is obviously growing faster and higher than the economy, which could lead to drastic implications for the country going forward.

According to the World Bank’s midyear Economic Update, Papua New Guinea’s economy is set to grow by 4.7 percent in 2025, well above its historical average, driven by rising gold and copper production and a strong recovery in agriculture. However, the prime minister says otherwise.

“A population anywhere above 10 million with an economy this size, is unsustainable for our country. At present size of the economy, we can’t afford to have a population boom.”

Nevertheless, the government continues to focus on growing the economy, but the population needs to be controlled as well.

A sustainable country must have the population below the growth rate; hence, the prime minister proposes to have population control policies in place in the near future to manage this issue.