1996 Edition

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

Location

6 00 S, 147 00 E -- 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 Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than California

land area

451,710 sq km

total area

461,690 sq km

Climate

tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

5,152 km

Environment

current issues

rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects

international agreements

party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

natural hazards

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geographic note

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border country

Indonesia 820 km

total

820 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forest and woodland

71%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

28%

permanent crops

1%

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

Map references

Oceania

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

Natural resources

gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

highest point

Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 40% (male 906,709; female 860,534) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,303,084; female 1,195,245) 65 years and over: 3% (male 59,513; female 69,452) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

32.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

10.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

60.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region

note

715 indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

58.15 years (1996 est.)

male

56.4 years

total population

57.25 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

62.7%

male

81%

total population

72.2%

Nationality

adjective

Papua New Guinean

noun

Papua New Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

4,394,537 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.29% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Sex ratio

all ages

1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Capital

Port Moresby

Constitution

16 September 1975

Data code

PP

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Kepas Isimel WATANGIA

telephone

[1] (202) 745-3680

Executive branch

cabinet

National Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991), who was appointed by the National Executive Council

head of government

Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since 30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994) were appointed by the governor general

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

[675] 321-3423

Flag

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

Independence

16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

International organization participation

ACP, APEC, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

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

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

abbreviation

PNG

conventional long form

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

conventional short form

Papua New Guinea

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of A

elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

Political parties and leaders

Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS

Suffrage

19 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard W. TEARE

embassy

Douglas Street, Port Moresby

mailing address

P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby

telephone

[675] 321-1455

Agriculture

coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Budget

expenditures

$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$1.86 billion

Currency

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $291 million (1993)

Economic 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 an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program. PNG will receive loans totaling $350 million over the next two years from a variety of lenders including the Fund, the Bank, the Australian Government, and the Japanese Export-Import Bank. The loans will be provided only if Port Moresby implements significant reforms to liberalize trade and investment policies, reduce the public sector, and promote sustainable development of the forestry sector. At the start of 1996, Port Moresby is looking primarily to the exploitation of mineral and petroleum resources to drive economic development but new prospecting in Papua New Guinea has slumped as other mineral-rich countries have stepped up their competition for international investment. Output from current projects will probably begin to taper off in 1996, but no new large ventures are being developed to succeed them.

Electricity

capacity

490,000 kW

consumption per capita

390 kWh (1993)

production

1.8 billion kWh

Exchange rates

kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7552 (October 1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster

partners

Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

External debt

$3.2 billion (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$2,400 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-3% (1995 est.)

Imports

$1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

partners

Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (1995)

Labor force

1.941 million

by occupation

agriculture 64% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Unit)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 0.9% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

1,143,015

males fit for military service

635,923 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

298,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

Telephones

63,212 (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions

10,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

451

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

12

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

5

with paved runways under 914 m

371

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

11

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

51 (1995 est.)

Heliports

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

640 km

total

19,088 km

unpaved

18,448 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)

total

12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,565 GRT/27,114 DWT

Ports

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways

0 km

Waterways

10,940 km