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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. |
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Location:
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 00 S, 147 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total:
462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 820
km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km |
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Coastline:
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5,152 km |
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Climate:
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tropical;
northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May
to October); slight seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains
with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold, copper,
silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0.13%
permanent crops: 1.35%
other: 98.52% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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active volcanism;
situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis |
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Environment - current issues:
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rain forest
subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial
demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects;
severe drought |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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shares island of
New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along
southwest coast |
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Population:
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5,420,280 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
38.3% (male 1,053,940; female 1,019,492)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,622,124; female 1,519,104)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 96,638; female 108,982)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 21
years
male: 21.1 years
female: 20.8 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.3% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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30.52
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.5 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
53.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 57.39 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 64.56 years
male: 62.41 years
female: 66.81 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.7% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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17,000 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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880 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Melanesian,
Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian |
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Religions:
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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% |
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Languages:
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Melanesian Pidgin
serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu
spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages -- many unrelated |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66%
male: 72.3%
female: 59.3% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea |
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Government type:
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constitutional
monarchy with parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Port Moresby |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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16 September 1975
(from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
16 September (1975) |
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Constitution:
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16 September 1975 |
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Legal system:
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based on English
common law |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Albert KIPALAN (since 13
November 2003)
note: Sir Pato KAKRAYA was elected Governor General on
4 December 2003; he was scheduled to be sworn in on 20 January
2004 but the election was challenged; Bill SKATE was acting
Governor General
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE
(since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Moses MALADINA
(since 1 December 2003)
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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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, UPR 14,
PDM 13, PPP 8, Pangu 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note -
association with political parties is fluid (2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Christian
Democratic Party [Muki TARANUPI, party leader]; Melanesian
Alliance Party or MAP [Bernard NAROKOBI, party leader];
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader;
George MANOA, party president]; National Party [John MUNNULL,
party leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Rabbie
NAMALU, party leader]; Papua New Guinea National Party [Robert
LAK, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses
MALADINA, party leader]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM
[Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or
PLP [Peter YAMA, party leader]; People's National Congress or
PNC [Bill SKATE, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or
PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol's First Party [Luther
WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party
leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party
leader] (2003) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805,
Washington, DC 20036 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 faltered over the past four years.
Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore
integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina,
restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public
enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on
Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in
attracting international support, specifically gaining the
backing of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development
assistance loans. Challenges face Prime Minister Michael
SOMARE, including curbing inflation, gaining further investor
confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets,
maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and
balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $11.4 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.7% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $2,200 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
32.1%
industry: 35.8%
services: 32.1% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (2002 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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17.2% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.3 million
(1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%,
industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$894 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $344 million (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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copra crushing,
palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production;
mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production;
construction, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA (FY01/02 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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1.496 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.391 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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67,500 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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15,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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110 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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110 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cocoa,
coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit,
vegetables, poultry, pork |
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Exports:
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$1.938 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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oil, gold, copper
ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia 24.2%,
Japan 9.4%, China 5.4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$967 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia 49.2%,
Singapore 18.8%, New Zealand 4.4%, Japan 4.3% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.7 billion
(2003 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$400 million
(1999 est.) |
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Currency:
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kina (PGK) |
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Currency code:
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PGK |
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Exchange rates:
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kina per US
dollar - 3.56 (2003), 3.9 (2002), 3.39 (2001), 2.78 (2000),
2.57 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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64,000 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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15,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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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: country code - 675; submarine cables to
Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 8, FM 19,
shortwave 28 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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3 (all in the
Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae,
and Rabaul are planned (2004) |
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Internet country code:
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.pg |
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Internet hosts:
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517 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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75,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total:
19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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10,940 km |
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Pipelines:
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oil 264 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Kieta, Lae,
Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 23
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT
foreign-owned: Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1,
combination ore/oil 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 4, roll
on/roll off 2 |
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Airports:
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559 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 4 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 538
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 466 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Papua New Guinea
Defense Force: Ground Force, Maritime Operations Element, and
Air Operations Element |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 1,403,467 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 775,064 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$16.9 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.4% (FY02) |
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Disputes - international:
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seeks assistance
from Australia to control illegal cross-border activities from
primarily Indonesia, including smuggling, drug trafficking,
and Indonesian squatters and secessionists |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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