2007 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: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743) 15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork

Airports

582 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

561 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 62

under 914 m

488 (2006)

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

29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.166 billion; including capital expenditures of $344 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$2.155 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

9 30 S, 147 10 E

name

Port Moresby

time difference

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

local short form

Papuaniugini

Currency (code)

kina (PGK)

Currency code

PGK

Current account balance

$661 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.801 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE

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

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.9 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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 nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first government in decades to serve a full five-year term. The government has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/Aids epidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

Electricity - consumption

3.123 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

3.358 billion kWh (2004)

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 - 3.08 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002)

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 Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)

Exports

$4.096 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Australia 28.8%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

[675] 321-3423

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

35.7%

industry

37.1%

services

27.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.148 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.13 billion (2006 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 parliamentary democracy

Heliports

2 (2006)

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

highest 10%

40.5% (1996)

lowest 10%

1.7%

Imports

$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 54.7%, Singapore 13.4%, Japan 4.3%, Malaysia 4.2% (2005)

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, petroleum refining; construction, tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

54.08 deaths/1,000 live births

total

49.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.pg

Internet hosts

1,573 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

170,000 (2005) Transportation Papua New Guinea

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

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

3.477 million (2006 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

0.49%

other

98.11% (2005)

permanent crops

1.4%

Languages

Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region

note

820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)

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 - seats by party as of January 2006 - National Alliance 25, URP 10, PNGP 9, PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP 4, others 34

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

note

association with political parties is fluid

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.58 years (2006 est.)

male

63.08 years

total population

65.28 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 (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,167,188 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,264,728

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

894,759 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

902,432

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

21.1 years (2006 est.)

male

21.4 years

total

21.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

6 (UK 6) (2006)

total

24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,532 GRT/72,240 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

140 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

140 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

345.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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 (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

170 million bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

oil 264 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; National Party; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Rabbie NAMALIU]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2007)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.21% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul Military Papua New Guinea

Public debt

53.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios

410,000 (1997)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

9,991 (Indonesia) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

$1.099 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

686 km

total

19,600 km

unpaved

18,914 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

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

26,000 (2005)

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

3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

2% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Waterways

10,940 km (2003)