Papua New Guinea

§1. Papua New Guinea Introduction

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.

§2. Papua New Guinea Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:
  Oceania

Area:
  total: 462,840 km²
  land: 452,860 km²
  water: 9,980 km²

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

Irrigated land:
  NA km²

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, 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

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

§3. Papua New Guinea People

Population:
  5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)

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.)

Median age:
  total: 21.2 years
  male: 21.4 years
  female: 21.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  2.21% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 49.96 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 65.28 years
  male: 63.08 years
  female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  600 (2003 est.)

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 (2005)

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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 64.6%
  male: 71.1%
  female: 57.7% (2002)

§4. Papua New Guinea Government

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

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 Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August
    2002); deputy prime minister Sir Moi AVEI (since 7 June 2005)
  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; 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

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 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
  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; as of January 2006 - National Alliance 25, URP 10, PNGP 9,
    PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP 4, others 34
  note: association with political parties is fluid (2005)

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:
  Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance Party or
  MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE];
  National Party [Melcher PEP]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris
  HAIVETA]; 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 Progressive Party or PPP
  [Andrew BAING]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire
  KIMASOPA]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

International organization participation:
  ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (associate member), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, 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, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO

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
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS
  embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
  mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington
    DC 20521-4240
  telephone: [675] 321-1455
  FAX: [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

§5. Papua New Guinea Economy

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 include the HIV/Aids epidemic, law and order, and
  land tenure issues. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which
  accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $13.35 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $4.096 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  1.1% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $2,400 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 35.2%
  industry: 38.3%
  services: 26.4% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  3.4 million (2005 est.)

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

Unemployment rate:
  up to 80% in urban areas (2005)

Population below poverty line:
  37% (2002 est.)

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):
  1.7% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  20.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.368 billion
  expenditures: $1.354 billion; including capital expenditures of $344
    million (2005 est.)

Public debt:
  47.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%

Electricity - production:
  1.592 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  1.481 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
  170 million bbl (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:
  140 million m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  140 million m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  0 m³ (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  345.5 billion m³ (2005)

Current account balance:
  $113 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $2.833 billion f.o.b. (2005 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)

Imports:
  $1.651 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
  Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, NZ 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $663 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $1.978 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $NA

Currency (code):
  kina (PGK)

Exchange rates:
  kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952
  (2002), 3.3887 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Papua New Guinea Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  15,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide
    radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
    international radio communication services
  domestic: mostly radiotelephone
  international: country code - 675; 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)

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

Internet country code:
  .pg

Internet hosts:
  909 (2005)

Internet users:
  170,000 (2005)

§7. Papua New Guinea Transportation

Airports:
  572 (2005)

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 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 551
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
  914 to 1,523 m: 62
  under 914 m: 479 (2005)

Heliports:
  2 (2005)

Pipelines:
  oil 264 km (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 19,600 km
  paved: 686 km
  unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)

Waterways:
  10,940 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 49,261 GRT/64,988 DWT
  by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
  foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

§8. Papua New Guinea Military

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

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

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.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $16.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  1.4% (FY02)

§9. Papua New Guinea Transnational Issues

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


<Factbook 2006>
