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  Papua New Guinea  
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


Map of Papua New Guinea



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
5,152 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
   People    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21.2 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 21.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.21% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 65.28 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2007)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
16 September 1975
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)
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:
Definition Field Listing
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; note - seats by party 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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; National Party; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Rabbie NAMALIU]; 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 Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2007)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 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 also brought stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control, however, it has relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections approach. 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 could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/Aids epidemic and chronic 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):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$15.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$4.148 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 35.7%
industry: 37.1%
services: 27.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.477 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
50.9 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $2.155 billion
expenditures: $2.166 billion; including capital expenditures of $344 million (2006 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.358 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.123 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
170 million bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
345.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$661 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.096 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Australia 28.8%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Australia 54.7%, Singapore 13.4%, Japan 4.3%, Malaysia 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.099 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.801 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
kina (PGK)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
kina per US dollar - 3.0643 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
62,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
26,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
3 (all in the Port Moresby area; stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned) (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.pg
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,573 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
170,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
582 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 561
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 488 (2006)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2006)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
oil 264 km (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,940 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,532 GRT/72,240 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul
   Military    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,264,728
females age 18-49: 1,167,188 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 902,432
females age 18-49: 894,759 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Papua New Guinea Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 9,991 (Indonesia) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
major consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


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