2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,034,219; female 1,000,505) 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,582,983; female 1,479,436) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 93,604; female 105,069) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

491 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

under 914 m

1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

470 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 56

under 914 m

403 (2002)

Area

land

452,860 sq km

total

462,840 sq km

water

9,980 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

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. Geography Papua New Guinea

Birth rate

31.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2000 est.)

revenues

$894 million

Capital

Port Moresby

Climate

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

Coastline

5,152 km

Constitution

16 September 1975

Country name

abbreviation

PNG

conventional long form

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

conventional short form

Papua New Guinea

former

Territory of Papua and New Guinea

Currency

kina (PGK)

Currency code

PGK

Death rate

7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$2.8 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert W. Fitts

embassy

Douglas Street, Port Moresby

mailing address

4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240

telephone

[675] 321-1455

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI

Disputes - international

Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.9 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$400 million (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by 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 economy has faltered over the past three years but will probably improve slightly in 2003. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the backing of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Significant challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, and maintaining the support of members of Parliament.

Electricity - consumption

1.391 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.496 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

54.1%

hydro

45.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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, 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

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Exchange rates

kina per US dollar - 3.8 (2002), 3.39 (2001), 2.78 (2000), 2.57 (1999), 2.07 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Albert KIPALAN (since 13 November 2003)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 15 November 2003)

Exports

$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners

Australia 23.7%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.3% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

[675] 321-3423

telephone

[1] (202) 745-3680

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Papua New Guinea

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 Economy Papua New Guinea

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.86 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

32.1%

industry

35.8%

services

32.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-3.1% (2002 est.)

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 People Papua New Guinea

Government type

constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Heliports

2 (2002) Military Papua New Guinea

Highways

paved

686 km

total

19,600 km

unpaved

18,914 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

880 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

40.5% (1996)

lowest 10%

1.7%

Imports

$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 49.3%, Singapore 18.8%, New Zealand 4.4%, Japan 4.2% (2002)

Independence

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

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

Infant mortality rate

female

50.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

59.14 deaths/1,000 live births

total

54.84 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.8% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.pg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

135,000 (2001) Transportation Papua New Guinea

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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)

Labor force

2.3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 820 km

total

820 km

Land use

arable land

0.13%

other

98.52% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.35%

Languages

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

note

715 indigenous languages

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)

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 (2002)

elections

last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not later than June 2007

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.42 years (2003 est.)

male

62.07 years

total population

64.19 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

59.3% (2003 est.) Government Papua New Guinea

male

72.3%

total population

66%

Location

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

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

Median age

female

20.6 years (2002)

male

21 years

total

20.8 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Singapore 2, UK 7 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3

total

23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 45,203 GRT/63,238 DWT

Military branches

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground Force, Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$40.21 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,370,419 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

757,421 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Papua New Guinean

noun

Papua New Guinean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

385.5 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

67,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

345.2 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

oil 264 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Bernard NAROKOBI]; National Alliance or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP [leader NA]; Papua New Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Pate WAMP, party leader; Chris HAIVETA, parliamentary leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity Party or PUP [leader NA]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]

note

43 political parties registered to participate in the June 2002 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

5,295,816 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.34% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios

410,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

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%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

mostly radiotelephone

general assessment

services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services

international

submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service

Telephones - main lines in use

61,152 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,053 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

3 (all in the Port Moresby area)

note

additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2002)

Televisions

59,841 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Total fertility rate

4.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

10,940 km