Papua New Guinea
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Papua New Guinea


Capital City: Port Moresby

Border countries: Indonesia

Internet Links

Official Sites of Papua New Guinea

Government of Papua New Guinea

Prime Minister's Office of Papua New Guinea

The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

Embassy of Papua New Guinea

Maps
Oceania

Political Map of Papua New Guinea

Introduction

Papua New Guinea

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

Location:  Southeastern Asia, 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

Geographic coordinates:  6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:  Oceania

Area:  total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:  slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:  total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:  5,152 km

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

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

Terrain:  mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes:  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:  gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil,
fisheries

Land use:  arable land: 0% permanent crops: 1% other: 99% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:  NA sq km

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

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

Geography - note:  shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of
world's largest swamps along southwest coast

People Papua New Guinea

Population:  5,172,033 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure:  0-14 years: 38.6% (male 1,013,936; female 980,841) 15-64
years: 57.7% (male 1,544,650; female 1,440,628) 65 years and over: 3.7%
(male 90,661; female 101,317) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:  2.39% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:  31.61 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:  7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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:
0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:  56.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:   66.03 years (2002 est.)  male: Total fertility
rate:  4.21 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:  0.22% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:  5,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:  450 (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups:  Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

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%

Languages:  English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu
spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages

Literacy:  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 64.5% male: 72% female: 57% (2000)

Government Papua New Guinea

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

Government type:  constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Capital:  Port Moresby

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

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

National holiday:  Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:  16 September 1975

Legal system:  based on English common law

Suffrage:  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir Silas ATOPARE (since 13
November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Mekere MORAUTA
(since 14 July 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Michael OGIO (since 3 November
2000) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none;
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National
Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority
support in National Parliament

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) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be
held 15 June 2002) 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

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)

Political parties and leaders:  Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [leader
NA]; National Alliance or NA [George MANDA, party president]; National
Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua New
Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua New Guinea United Party or
Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; 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 [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]
note: more than 40 political parties have registered to participate in
the June 2002 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders:  NA

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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora
Y. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington,
DC 20036 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680

Diplomatic representation from the US:  chief of mission: Ambassador
Susan S. JACOBS embassy: Douglas Street,
 P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone:
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

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
declined over the past two years and will probably continue to falter
in 2002. Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA has 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
support of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance
loans. Significant challenges remain for MORAUTA, however, including
gaining further investor confidence, specifically for the proposed
Papua New Guinea-Australia oil pipeline, continuing efforts to privatize
government assets, and maintaining the support of members of Parliament.

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  -2.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:  purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:  agriculture: 30.4% industry: 36.8% services:
32.8% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:  37%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:  lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:  50.9 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  10.3% (2001 est.)

Labor force:  2.3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:  agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:  NA%

Budget:  revenues: $894 million expenditures: $1.1 billion, including
capital expenditures of $344 million (2000 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate:  NA%

Electricity - production:  1.65 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source:  fossil fuel: 54.55% hydro: 45.45%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:  1.535 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports:  0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports:  0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products:  coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Exports:  $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:  oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee,
cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners:  Australia 30%, Japan 11%, China 6%, Germany 4%,
South Korea 4%, UK 3%, Philippines 1%, US 1% (2000)

Imports:  $1.024 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:  machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:  Australia 50%, Singapore 20%, Japan 4%, NZ 4%,
Indonesia 3%, Malaysia 3%, US 2% (2000)

Debt - external:  $2.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:  $400 million (1999 est.)

Currency:  kina (PGK)

Currency code:  PGK

Exchange rates:  kina per US dollar - 3.706 (January 2002), 3.374 (2001),
2.765 (2000), 2.539 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997)

Fiscal year:  calendar year

Communications Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:  61,152 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:  3,053 (1996)

Telephone system:  general assessment: services are adequate and being
improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: submarine cables to
Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service

Radio broadcast stations:  AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios:  410,000 (1997)

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)

Internet country code:  .pg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):  3 (2000)

Internet users:  135,000 (2001)

Transportation Papua New Guinea

Railways:  0 km

Highways:  total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996)

Waterways:  10,940 km

Ports and harbors:  Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Merchant marine:  total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,911
GRT/58,723 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of
 Singapore 2, United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)  ships by type:  petroleum
 tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3

Airports:  490 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways:  total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to
2,437 m: 14 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways:  total: 469 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914
to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 402 (2001)

Heliports:  2 (2001)

Military Papua New Guinea

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

Military manpower - availability:  males age 15-49: 1,338,003 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:  males age 15-49: 740,085
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:  $42 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:  1% (FY98)

Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea

Disputes - international:  none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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