East & Southeast Asia :: Papua New Guinea
page last updated on January 29, 2013
Flag of Papua New Guinea
Location of Papua New Guinea
 
Map of Papua New Guinea
Introduction ::Papua New Guinea
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
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
6 00 S, 147 00 E
total: 462,840 sq km
country comparison to the world: 55
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
slightly larger than California
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
5,152 km
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
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)
NA
801 cu km (1987)
total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (elev. 2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (elev. 688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
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
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
People and Society ::Papua New Guinea
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 860 indigenous languages spoken (over 12% of the world's total); most languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers
note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
Roman Catholic 27%, Protestant 69.4% (Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%), Baha'i 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)
6,310,129 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,153,908/ female 1,114,109)
15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,955,028/ female 1,851,584)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 125,449/ female 110,051) (2012 est.)
population pyramid:
total: 22 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 21.8 years (2012 est.)
1.936% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
25.92 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
urban population: 13% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PORT MORESBY (capital) 314,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
230 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50
total: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 55
male: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
total population: 66.46 years
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 64.23 years
female: 68.79 years (2012 est.)
3.39 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
3.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
0.053 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
improved:
urban: 71% of population
rural: 41% of population
total: 45% of population
unimproved:
urban: 29% of population
rural: 59% of population
total: 55% of population
0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
34,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
1,300 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
18.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 40
NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)
the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness
Government ::Papua New Guinea
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
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
18 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; 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
note: Hela and Jiwaka were approved as separate provinces on 17 May 2012
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
16 September 1975
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Michael OGIO (since 25 February 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Paire O'NEILL (since 2 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Leo DION (since 9 August 2012)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general acting in accordance with a decision of the parliament; Peter Paire O'NEILL elected prime minister by parliament on 3 August 2012 by a vote of 94 to 12
unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats
elections: last held from 23 June 2012 to 27 July 2012 (next to be held in June 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's National Congress Party 27, Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party 12, PNG Party 8, National Alliance Party 7, United Resources Party 7, People's Party 6, People's Progess Party 6, other parties 22, independents 16
note: 14 other parties won 3 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid
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)
National Alliance Party or NA [Patrick PRUAITCHI]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Beldan NEMAH]; People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter O'NEILL]; People's Party or PP; People's Progress Party or PPP; Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don Poyle]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]
note: as of 13 March 2012, 41 political parties were registered
Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE]; Community Coalition Against Corruption; National Council of Women; Transparency International PNG
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elias Rahuromo WOHENGU
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
chief of mission: Ambassador Walter E. NORTH
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
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; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
bird of paradise
name: "O Arise All You Sons"
lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
note: adopted 1975
Economy ::Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 227 billion cubic meters. A consortium led by a major American oil company is constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility that could begin exporting in 2014. As the largest investment project in the country's history, it has the potential to double GDP in the near-term and triple Papua New Guinea's export revenue. An American-owned firm also opened PNG's first oil refinery in 2004 and is building a second LNG production facility. The government faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and accountability for revenues flowing from this and other large LNG projects. In 2011 and 2012, the National Parliament passed legislation that created an offshore Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to manage government surpluses from mineral, oil, and natural gas projects. In recent years, the government has opened up markets in telecommunications and air transport, making both more affordable to the people. Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities.
$18.45 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$17.14 billion (2011 est.)
$15.74 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$15.39 billion (2012 est.)
7.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
8.9% (2011 est.)
7.6% (2010 est.)
$2,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$2,600 (2011 est.)
$2,400 (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
agriculture: 27.9%
industry: 38.5%
services: 33.6% (2012 est.)
3.986 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
agriculture: 85%
industry: (2005 est.)
services: NA% (2005 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
1.8% (2004)
37% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
50.9 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 19
20.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
revenues: $4.962 billion
expenditures: $4.942 billion (2012 est.)
32.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
0.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
6.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
8.4% (2011 est.)
14% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
6.92% (31 December 2009 est.)
11.3% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
10.81% (31 December 2011 est.)
$5.685 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$4.488 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$8.624 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$7.134 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$3.585 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$3.093 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$8.999 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 72
$9.742 billion (31 December 2010)
$12.21 billion (31 December 2009)
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; poultry, pork; shellfish
10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
-$4.381 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-$48.5 million (2011 est.)
$7.362 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$6.791 billion (2011 est.)
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Australia 31.5%, Japan 7%, China 6.2% (2011)
$5.269 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$4.07 billion (2011 est.)
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Australia 36.9%, Singapore 14.1%, Malaysia 9.1%, China 7%, Japan 5%, Indonesia 4.7%, US 4.7% (2011)
$5.207 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$4.323 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$4.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$5.144 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$NA
$NA
kina (PGK) per US dollar -
2.078 (2012 est.)
2.371 (2011 est.)
2.7193 (2010 est.)
2.7551 (2009)
2.6956 (2008)
calendar year
Energy ::Papua New Guinea
3.331 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
3.098 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
700,000 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
61.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
30.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
30,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
15,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
170 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
16,080 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
36,320 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
3,536 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
7,201 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
110 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
110 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
155.3 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
5.306 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Communications ::Papua New Guinea
130,000 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 141
2.4 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 133
general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available although combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to roughly 40 per 100 persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
2 TV stations, 1 commercial station operating since the late 1980s and 1 state-run station launched in 2008; satellite and cable TV services are available; state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2009)
.pg
5,006 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 145
125,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation ::Papua New Guinea
562 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 12
total: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
total: 542
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 476 (2012)
2 (2012)
oil 195 km (2010)
total: 9,349 km
country comparison to the world: 136
paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
11,000 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 11
total: 31
country comparison to the world: 83
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 22, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010)
Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
Military ::Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2009)
16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; graduation from grade 12 required (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,568,210
females age 16-49: 1,478,965 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,130,951
females age 16-49: 1,137,753 (2010 est.)
male: 67,781
female: 65,820 (2010 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Transnational Issues ::Papua New Guinea
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 (country of origin): 9,368 (Indonesia) (2011)
current situation: Papua New Guinea is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; trafficked men are forced to labor in logging and mining camps; migrant women and teenage girls from Malaysia, Thailand, China, and the Philippines are subjected to sex trafficking; men from China are transported to the country for forced labor
tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; despite the government's acknowledgement of trafficking as a problem in the country, the government did not investigate any suspected trafficking offenses, prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders under existing laws, address allegations of officials complicit in human trafficking crimes, or identify or assist any trafficking victims (2008)
major consumer of cannabis