| Papua New Guinea |  | Click to enlarge

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

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This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006

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| Introduction | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Background:

The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

| Geography | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: | 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: | Oceania
Area: | total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: | total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: | 5,152 km
Maritime claims: | measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: | tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: | mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: | gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: | arable land: 0.49% permanent crops: 1.4% other: 98.11% (2005)
Irrigated land: | NA sq km
Natural hazards: | active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

| People | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Population: | 5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743) 15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)
Median age: | total: 21.2 years male: 21.4 years female: 21.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.21% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: | 29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: | 7.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 49.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 65.28 years male: 63.08 years female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 16,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2005)
Nationality: | noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: | Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions: | Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: | Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.6% male: 71.1% female: 57.7% (2002)

| Government | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG
Government type: | constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Capital: | Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: | 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence: | 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: | 16 September 1975
Legal system: | based on English common law
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); deputy prime minister Sir Moi AVEI (since 7 June 2005)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; as of January 2006 - National Alliance 25, URP 10, PNGP 9, PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP 4, others 34
note: association with political parties is fluid (2005)

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; National Party [Melcher PEP]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew BAING]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (associate member), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description: | divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

| Economy | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Economy - overview:

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first government in decades to serve a full five-year term. The government has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges include the HIV/Aids epidemic, law and order, and land tenure issues. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

GDP (purchasing power parity): | $13.35 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $4.096 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 1.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $2,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 35.2% industry: 38.3% services: 26.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: | 3.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: | up to 80% in urban areas (2005)
Population below poverty line: | 37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 50.9 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1.7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 20.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $1.368 billion expenditures: $1.354 billion; including capital expenditures of $344 million (2005 est.)
Public debt: | 47.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork
Industries: | copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | 1.592 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - consumption: | 1.481 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production: | 50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves: | 170 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 140 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 140 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 345.5 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance: | $113 million (2005 est.)
Exports: | $2.833 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: | oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Exports - partners: | Australia 28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004)
Imports: | $1.651 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: | Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, NZ 4.2% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $663 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external: | $1.978 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $NA
Currency (code): | kina (PGK)
Exchange rates: | kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

| Communications | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 62,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 15,000 (2002)
Telephone system: | general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: | 3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)
Internet country code: | .pg
Internet hosts: | 909 (2005)
Internet users: | 170,000 (2005)

| Transportation | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Airports: | 572 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2005)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 551 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 479 (2005)
Heliports: | 2 (2005)
Pipelines: | oil 264 km (2004)
Roadways: | total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)
Waterways: | 10,940 km (2003)
Merchant marine: | total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 49,261 GRT/64,988 DWT by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2005)
Ports and terminals: | Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

| Military | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Military branches: | Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element)
Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $16.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.4% (FY02)

| Transnational Issues | Papua New Guinea | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists

This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006