| Papua New Guinea |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Papua New Guinea | Introduction | 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.

Papua New Guinea | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Southeastern Asia, 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 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 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: 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other: 6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note: | shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Papua New Guinea | People | Top of Page

Population: | 5,049,055 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 993,248; female 960,647) 15-64 years: 57.63% (male 1,507,064; female 1,402,666) 65 years and over: 3.67% (male 87,779; female 97,651) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 2.43% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | 32.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: | 7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: | 58.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 63.46 years male: 61.39 years female: 65.64 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: | 4.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.22% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 5,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 450 (1999 est.)

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: | English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7% (1995 est.)

Papua New Guinea | Government | 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 Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Michael OGIO (since 3 November 2000) 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; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament

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 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association with political parties is very fluid

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: | National Alliance or NA [Michael SOMARE]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Simon KAUMI]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA

International organization participation: | ACP, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Susan JACOBS chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby 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

Papua New Guinea | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the 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 72% of export earnings. The 3.4% average annual growth rate of GDP during 1979-1998 conceals considerable year-to-year variation resulting from external economic shocks, natural disasters, and economic management problems. There has been little growth in the last half of the 1990s, with real GDP in 1999 barely 3% higher than in 1994, not enough to compensate for population growth. A new administration under the leadership of Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA in July 1999 has promised to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina, to restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the support of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Significant challenges remain for MORAUTA, however, including gaining further investor confidence, specifically for the proposed Papua New Guinea-Australia oil pipeline, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, and in maintaining the support from members of Parliament who after 15 July 2001 can dismiss him with a vote of no-confidence.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: | 2.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 30% industry: 35% services: 35% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: | 37%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 17% (2000 est.)

Labor force: | 1.941 million

Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate: | NA%

Budget: | revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: | copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | 1.82 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 54.95% hydro: 45.05% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: | 1.693 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: | coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Exports: | $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities: | oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners: | Australia 30%, Japan 12%, Germany 7%, South Korea 4%, Philippines 3%, UK 3% (1999)

Imports: | $1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners: | Australia 53%, Singapore 13%, Japan 6%, US 4%, New Zealand 4%, Malaysia 4% (1999)

Debt - external: | $2.9 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: | $400 million (1999 est.)

Currency: | kina (PGK)

Currency code: | PGK

Exchange rates: | kina per US dollar - 2.81 (October 2000), 2.696 (2000), 2.539 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997), 1.318 (1996)

Fiscal year: | calendar year

Papua New Guinea | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 47,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 3,053 (1996)

Telephone system: | general assessment: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: 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)

Radios: | 410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: | 3 (1997)

Televisions: | 42,000 (1997)

Internet country code: | .pg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 3 (2000)

Internet users: | 2,000 (2000)

Papua New Guinea | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996)

Waterways: | 10,940 km

Ports and harbors: | Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Merchant marine: | total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,361 GRT/51,096 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)

Airports: | 492 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 472 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 402 (2000 est.)

Heliports: | 2 (2000 est.)

Papua New Guinea | Military | Top of Page

Military branches: | Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)

Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,306,159 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 723,012 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $42 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1% (FY98)

Papua New Guinea | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none