1998 Edition

Area

total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

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

Coastline

5,152 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

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, 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

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Land use

arable land: 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other: 6% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Age structure

0-14 years: 40% (male 936,206; female 888,427) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,374,471; female 1,263,750) 65 years and over: 3% (male 62,593; female 74,338) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

32.37 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

57.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 58.06 years male: 57.18 years female: 58.98 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

4,599,785 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.27% (1998 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

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: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.26 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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

Constitution

16 September 1975

Country name

conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Data code

PP

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Michael NALI (since 16 December 1997); note-NALI replaces Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994) who Prime Minister SKATE fired on 12 December 1997 for his alleged role in trying to discredit SKATE cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; 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

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

[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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680

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: Bougainville Unity Alliance (BUA), Samuel AKOITAI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Michael NALI; Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Pati), Chris HAIVETA; National Alliance (NA), Michael SOMARE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Iario LASARO; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; United Party (UP), Rimbiuk PATO; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; People's Unity Party (PUP), Alfred KAIABE; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; Movement for Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Christian Democratic Party, Dilu GOMA; Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's National Congress or PNC, Bill SKATE, and Christian Country Party, Avusi TANO) leader NA; People's Resources Awareness Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Rabbie SAMAI; People's Solidarity Party, Kala SWOKIM; Melanesian Labour Party, Paul MONDIA; Black Action Party, Paul WANJIK; League for National Advancement (LNA), leader NA; United Resource Party, Masket IANGALIO; Hausman Party, Waim TOKAM; Milne Bay Party, Simon MUMURIK

Legal system

based on English common law

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

National capital

Port Moresby

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Currency

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Debt-external

$3.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)

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 an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% 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, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. Droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Moreover, droughts could bite into growth in 1998.

Electricity-capacity

490,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

410 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

1.76 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

kina (K) per US$1-0.6299 (November 1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993); note-the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports

total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, coffee, palm oil, cocoa, lobster partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$11.6 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 26.4% industry: 41% services: 32.6% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,650 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.3% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals partners: Australia, US, Singapore, Japan, UK

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

11.6% (1996)

Labor force

total: 1.941 million by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 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

1

Televisions

10,000 (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

495 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 476 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 404 (1997 est.)

Heliports

2 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,859 GRT/45,270 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1997 est.)

Railways

0 km

Waterways

10,940 km Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$63 million (1997); note-includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 1,206,458 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 670,510 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none