2020 Edition

Background

Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of Indonesia. PNG was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. Its harsh geography of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s ethnic and linguistic diversity. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate -- and eventually a colony -- over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored. The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. The New Guinea campaign of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth.  Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement on the island province of Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders reached a cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans voted in favor of independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville and PNG governments are in the process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the PNG parliament. 

Area

land

452,860 sq km

total

462,840 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

highest point

Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

667 m

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note

note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; highlands that trend from east to west break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps lies along the southwest coast note 2: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 824 km

total

824 km

Land use

agricultural land

3.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)

forest

75.2% (2023 est.)

other

21.7% (2023 est.)

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 rivers (by length in km)

Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

active volcanism; frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951, killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Age structure

0-14 years

37.1% (male 1,902,272/female 1,825,471)

15-64 years

58.9% (male 2,991,479/female 2,923,410)

65 years and over

4% (2024 est.) (male 198,511/female 205,090)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

27.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

3.7% (2018)

women married by age 15

8% (2018)

women married by age 18

27.3% (2018)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.9% (2018 est.)

Death rate

5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

14.2 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

69.4 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

62.4 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 44.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 50.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 55.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 49.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

3.5% national budget (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Gross reproduction rate

1.82 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

28.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 living indigenous languages are spoken (about 12% of the world's total)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.9 years

male

68.3 years

total population

70.1 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

61.6% (2017 est.)

male

78.4% (2017 est.)

total population

70.1% (2017 est.)

Major urban areas - population

410,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

189 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

21.9 years

male

21.6 years

total

21.9 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.9 years (2016/18)

Nationality

adjective

Papua New Guinean

noun

Papua New Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.3% (2016)

People - note

the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness

Physician density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

5,067,785

male

5,206,211

total

10,273,996 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

2.22% (2025 est.)

Religions

Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army 0.4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 18.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 81.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

23.8% (2025 est.)

male

53.4% (2025 est.)

total

38.9% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

13.7% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik

Capital

etymology

named in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877)

geographic coordinates

9 27 S, 147 11 E

name

Port Moresby

time difference

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

time zone note

Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

8 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority

history

adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975

Country name

abbreviation

PNG

conventional long form

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

conventional short form

Papua New Guinea

etymology

the name derives from the Malay word pua-pua, describing the tightly curled hair of the Papuan people; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island in 1545 because he thought the locals resembled the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa

former

German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea

local short form

Papuaniugini

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 22 February 2024); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu

email address and website

ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Harbour City Road, Konedobu, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea

mailing address

4240 Port Moresby Pl, Washington DC 20521-4240

telephone

[675] 308-9100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Arnold Karibone AMET (since 5 September 2025)

email address and website

info@pngembassy.org http://www.pngembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

telephone

[1] (202) 745-3680

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)

election results

James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, pending a National Parliament vote

head of government

Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019)

Flag

description: divided diagonally from upper-left corner; the upper triangle is red and has a soaring yellow bird of paradise in the center; the lower triangle is black with five five-pointed white stars of the Southern Cross constellation meaning: red, black, and yellow are the country's traditional colors; the bird of paradise is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross symbolizes the country's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA

subordinate courts

district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

July 2027

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Parliament

most recent election date

7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022

number of seats

118 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Papua & Niugini Union Pati (PANGU) (39); People's National Congress Party (PNC) (15); United Resource Party (URP) (11); Others (40); Independents (10)

percentage of women in chamber

2.7%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1975

lyrics/music

Thomas SHACKLADY

title

"O Arise, All You Sons"

National coat of arms

Papua New Guinea's coat of arms was adopted on July 1, 1971, and features the country's national symbol, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise; the bird stands for the nation's freedom and rich natural environment; the traditional spear under the bird represents the country's ethnic groups and the protection of its heritage, and the Kundu drum, which is used in ceremonies, represents local artistic traditions and communication

National color(s)

red, black

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Kuk Early Agricultural Site

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

National symbol(s)

bird of paradise

Political parties

Destiny Party  Liberal Party  Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP  Melanesian Liberal Party or MLP  National Alliance Party or NAP  Our Development Party or ODP  Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI  Papua New Guinea Greens Party  Papua New Guinea National Party  Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP  People's First Party or PFP  People's Movement for Change or PMC  People's National Congress Party or PNC  People’s National Party  People's Party or PP  People's Progress Party or PPP  People's Reform Party or PRP  Social Democratic Party or SDP  Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE  United Labor Party or ULP  United Resources Party or URP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

oil palm fruit, coconuts, bananas, fruits, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, root vegetables, vegetables, sugarcane (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$6.856 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$5.518 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

$3.284 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$4.567 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$4.183 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$7.011 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower-middle-income Pacific island economy; primarily informal agrarian sector; natural-resource-rich and key exporter of liquified natural gas; collapse in betel nut prices, tighter monetary policy, and improved foreign-exchange availability contributing to declining inflation; challenges include lack of progress in infrastructure, agricultural reform, and corruption

Exchange rates

Currency

kina (PGK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

3.388 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3.46 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.509 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.519 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.59 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$11.032 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$14.862 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$12.93 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

natural gas, gold, copper ore, palm oil, nickel (2023)

Exports - partners

China 28%, Japan 25%, Australia 17%, Taiwan 8%, India 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

49.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption

19.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption

43.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-22.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

10% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

17.2% (2024 est.)

industry

37.2% (2024 est.)

services

41.5% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$32.538 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$6.43 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$8.568 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$7.192 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, trucks, rice, plastic products, excavation machinery (2023)

Imports - partners

Australia 27%, China 24%, Singapore 15%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 4% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

3.6% (2024 est.)

Industries

oil and gas; mining (gold, copper, and nickel); palm oil processing; plywood and wood chip production; copra crushing; construction; tourism; fishing; livestock (pork, poultry, cattle) and dairy farming; spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

0.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

3.66 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

52.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$42.093 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$43.697 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$45.487 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$4,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$4,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$3.24 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$3.983 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.901 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

3% (2024 est.)

male

4.6% (2024 est.)

total

3.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

1.148 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

328.234 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

14.2%

electrification - total population

19% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

65.1%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

76.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

8.781 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

677.736 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

10.892 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

159.656 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

total

22,000 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

5 TV stations: 1 commercial (TV Wan), 2 state-run (National Broadcasting Corporation and EMTV); 1 digital free-to-view network, and 1 satellite network (Click TV or PNGTV); the state-run NBC operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2023)

Internet country code

.pg

Internet users

percent of population

24% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

166,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

4.1 million (2024 est.)

Airports

569 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

P2

Heliports

3 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 6, general cargo 89, oil tanker 4, other 106

total

205 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Kavieng Harbor, Kieta, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Vanimo, Wewak Harbor

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

8

small

6

total ports

22 (2024)

very small

16

Military - note

the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) is tasked with defense of the country and its territories against external attack, as well as internal security and socio-economic development duties; following some inter-tribal violence in Wapenamanda in 2024, the PNGDF was given arrest powers since 2023, Papua New Guinea has signed bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Australia, Indonesia, the UK, and the US; the 2023 defense cooperation agreement with the US allowed the US military to develop and operate out of bases in PNG with the PNG Government’s approval; PNG has also military relations with France and New Zealand and has discussed a security cooperation agreement with China  the PNGDF was established in 1973, and its primary combat unit, the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR), is descended from Australian Army infantry battalions comprised of native soldiers and led by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers formed during World War II to help fight the Japanese; the RPIR was disbanded after the war, but reestablished in 1951 as part of the Australian Army where it continued to serve until PNG gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF (2025)

Military and security forces

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Land, Air, Maritime elements Ministry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 4,000 active PNGDF (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the PNGDF is lightly armed; the Land Force has no heavy weapons while the Air and the Maritime forces have a handful of light aircraft and small patrol boats provided by Australia and New Zealand (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 (30 for officers) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

107,985 (2024 est.)

refugees

10,983 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Papua New Guinea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/papua-new-guinea/

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

1.33 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

5.798 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

rainforest loss as a result of commercial demand for tropical timber; soil erosion, water-quality degradation, and loss of habitat from logging; effects of large-scale mining projects (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; land degradation from poor farming practices; poor fishing practices; coastal pollution due to runoff and oil spills

International environmental agreements

party to

Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Particulate matter emissions

8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

801 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

167.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

223.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

6.3% (2022 est.)