2005 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: 38.1% (male 1,072,910/female 1,037,635) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,662,166/female 1,559,685) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 99,777/female 113,095) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

571 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

550 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)

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

29.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.232 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2004 est.)

revenues

$1.174 billion

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 (code)

kina (PGK)

Currency code

PGK

Current account balance

$29.15 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$2.463 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert W. FITTS

embassy

Douglas Street, Port Moresby

FAX

[675] 321-3423

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

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

telephone

[1] (202) 745-3680

Disputes - international

relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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 improved over the past two years, following a prolonged period of instability. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for 20% of the national budget. Challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.

Electricity - consumption

1.561 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

1.679 billion kWh (2002)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Exchange rates

kina per US dollar - 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000)

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 Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)

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 (vacant)

Exports

$2.437 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Australia 28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

34.5%

industry

34.7%

services

30.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.99 billion (2004 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 (2004 est.) Military Papua New Guinea

Highways

paved

686 km

total

19,600 km

unpaved

18,914 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Imports

$1.353 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, New Zealand 4.2% (2004)

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

47.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

55.63 deaths/1,000 live births

total

51.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.pg

Internet hosts

389 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

75,000 (2002) Transportation Papua New Guinea

Investment (gross fixed)

13.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

3.32 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 820 km

total

820 km

Land use

arable land

0.46%

other

98.1% (2001)

permanent crops

1.44%

Languages

Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated

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 - National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political parties is fluid (2003)

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

67.21 years (2005 est.)

male

62.76 years

total population

64.93 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

57.7% (2002) Government Papua New Guinea

male

71.1%

total population

64.6%

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.)

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

20.93 years (2005 est.)

male

21.25 years

total

21.09 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

8 (Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6) (2005)

total

22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$16.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

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 (2004)

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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

46,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

170 million bbl (2004 est.)

Pipelines

oil 264 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN, party leader]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

5,545,268 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.26% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

Public debt

59.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios

410,000 (1997)

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%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$635.8 million (2004 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: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

mostly radiotelephone

general assessment

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

international

country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service

Telephones - main lines in use

62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)

Televisions

59,841 (1999)

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Total fertility rate

3.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

Waterways

10,940 km (2003)