2008 Edition

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.

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%) per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)

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

Land boundaries

total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Land use

arable land: 0.49% permanent crops: 1.4% other: 98.11% (2005)

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 territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Total renewable water resources

801 cu km (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 1,124,174/female 1,086,478) 15-64 years: 58.7% (male 1,791,342/female 1,690,089) 65 years and over: 4% (male 111,023/female 128,663) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

28.14 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

60,000 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 46.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66 years male: 63.76 years female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 63.4% female: 50.9% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)

Median age

total: 21.5 years male: 21.6 years female: 21.4 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

5,931,769 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.118% (2008 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.71 children born/woman (2008 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

Capital

name: Port Moresby geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

16 September 1975

Country name

conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea local short form: Papuaniugini former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D. mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister elections: monarch is hereditary; governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by chief of state; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by governor general

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

[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

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, APEC, ARF, 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), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held in June 2012 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Alliance 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU 5, PDM 5, independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Political parties and leaders

National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel KAPRIS]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] (2007)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes); Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE]; Community Coalition Against Corruption

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.363 billion expenditures: $2.21 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.38% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.78% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

kina (PGK)

Currency code

PGK

Current account balance

$125.8 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.646 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.9 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$266.1 million (2005)

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 copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government also brought stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections approached. 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, its 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 will supply more than $300 million in aid in FY07/08, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

Electricity - consumption

2.674 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

2.875 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 54.1% hydro: 45.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003)

Exports

$4.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Australia 27.3%, Japan 9.5%, China 5.7% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 34% industry: 37.3% services: 28.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.001 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.05 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.629 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 51.3%, Singapore 11.6%, China 7.9%, Japan 5.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

6.4% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

3.557 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 85% industry: NA% services: NA% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.863 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption

140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

140 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

29,050 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

39,310 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

24,150 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

42,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (2002 est.)

Public debt

40.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.087 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.486 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.685 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.482 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Internet country code

.pg

Internet hosts

3,422 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

110,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios

410,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 6 per 100 persons international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

60,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

300,000 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

59,841 (1999)

Airports

578 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 557 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 489 (2007)

Heliports

2 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 21 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 6 (UAE 6) (2008)

Pipelines

oil 264 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak

Roadways

total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (2000)

Waterways

11,000 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,481,417 females age 16-49: 1,385,040 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,080,466 females age 16-49: 1,092,040 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 62,865 female: 61,102 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2008)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

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

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of destination for women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude occurs as well tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking; the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)