Goroka Population 2026

Goroka has a population of 18,503, making it the #10 biggest city in 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea, located in Eastern Highlands Province. Roughly 0.2% of Papua New Guinea's population lives here. It is about 15× smaller than Port Moresby, the country's biggest city.

Location of Goroka (capital Port Moresby shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

18,503

Rank in Papua New Guinea

#10

Coordinates

6.08°S, 145.39°E

~1,574 m elevation · Pacific/Port_Moresby

Distance to capital (Port Moresby)

424 km

263 miles, straight line

Cities near Goroka

Madang27,419 people · ~106 km away
Mount Hagen33,623 people · ~130 km away
Bulolo16,042 people · ~186 km away
Mendi26,252 people · ~191 km away
Lae76,255 people · ~191 km away
Wewak18,230 people · ~342 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Goroka?

Goroka has a population of 18,503 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #10 biggest city in Papua New Guinea.

What region is Goroka in?

Goroka is located in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Is Goroka the capital of Papua New Guinea?

No, the capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby, about 424 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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