1985 Edition

Airfields

131 total, 128 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,2202,439 m

Branches

Defense Forces of the Republic of Panama (formerly known as the National Guard) includes military ground forces (stil! designated National Guard), Panamanian Air Force, National Navy, Panama Canal Defense Force, police force, traffic police/highway patrol, National Department of Investigation, and Department of Immigration

executive — National Executive Council; legislature — House of Assembly (109 members); judiciary — court system consists of Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and various inferior courts (district courts, local courts, children's courts, wardens' courts)

Capital

Port Moresby

Civil air

16 major transport aircraft

Coastline

about 5,152 km People

Communists

no significant strength

Elections

preferential-type elections for 109-member House of Assembly every five years, last held in June 1982

Ethnic divisions

predominantly Melanesian and Papuan; some Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian

Government leaders

Sir Kingsford DIBELA, Governor General (since March 1983); Michael Thomas SOMARE, Prime Minister (since August 1982)

Labor force

1.44 million (1979); 352,500 (1980) in salaried employment; 53% agriculture, 20% government, 17% industry and commerce, 10% services Government

Land boundaries

966 km Water

Language

715 indigenous languages; pidgin English in much of the country and Motu in Papua region are linguae francae; English spoken by 1-2% of population

Legal system

based on English common law

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)

Literacy

32%

Member of

ADB, ANRPC, CIPEC (associate), Commonwealth, ESCAP (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, South Pacific Commission, South Pacific Forum, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Military budget

for fiscal year beginning 1 January 1985, $92 million; 3.4% of central government budget South Pacific Ocean New Ireland New % Britain Bougainville *.'"•*.• Coral Sea Land 461,691 km2; slightly larger than California; 70% forest, 3% cultivated, 2% pasture, 25% other

Military manpower

males 15-49, 523,000; 360,000 fit for military service; no conscription

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September

Nationality

noun — Papua New Guinean(s); adjective — Papua New Guinean

Official name

Papua New Guinea

Pipelines

refined products, 96 km; crude oil, 130km

Political parties

Pangu Party, People's Progress Party, United Party, Papua Besena, National Party, Melanesian Alliance

Political subdivisions

19 provinces

Population

3,326,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 2.1%

Ports

2 major (Cristobal and Balboa), 8 minor

Religion

over half of population nominally Christian (490,000 Catholic, 320,000 Lutheran, other Protestant sects); remainder indigenous beliefs

Suffrage

universal adult

Telecommunications

domestic and international telecom facilities well developed; connection into Central American microwave net; 2 Atlantic Ocean satellite antennas; 213,000 telephones (10.0 per 100 popl.); 72 AM, 30 FM, 14 TV stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable Defense Forces

Type

independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state