Statistical information Papua New Guinea 1989

Papua New Guinea in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 820 km with Indonesia
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 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
ElevationNatural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 1% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows and pastures; 71% forest and woodland; 28% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia
top of pagePopulation: 3,736,386 (July 1989), growth rate 2.3% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Papua New Guinean(s; adjective - Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: predominantly Melanesian and Papuan; some Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian
Languages: 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region
Religions: over half of population nominally Christian (490,000 Roman Catholic, 320,000 Lutheran, other Protestant sects; remainder indigenous beliefs
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 35 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 12 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast; some active volcanos; frequent earthquakes
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 97 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 55 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 32%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state
Capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Dependent areasIndependence: 16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult
Executive branchLegislative branch: Papua New Guinea Defense Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ADB, ANRPC, CIPEC (associate), Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, South Pacific Commission, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Renagi R. LOHIA; Chancery at Suite 350, 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,036; telephone (202) 659-0856; US - Ambassador Everett E. BIERMAN; Embassy at Armit Street, Port Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby; telephone Õ675å 211-455 or 594, 654
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. The economy is based on agriculture and mining. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for more than half the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounted for about 60% of export earnings in 1987.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: copra, cocoa, coffee, rubber, oil palm, tea
Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood processing, wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force:
1,660,000; 732,806 in salaried employment; 54% agriculture, 25% government, 9%
industry and commerce, 8%
services (1980)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1988)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $962 million; expenditures $998 million, including capital expenditures of $169 million (1988)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.17 billion (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: gold, copper ore, coffee, copra, palm oil, timber, lobster
Partners: FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US
Imports: $1.10 billion (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food, chemicals, consumer goods
Partners: Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.5 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 0.8235 (January 1989), 0.8667 (1988), 0.9081 (1987), 0.9713 (1986), 1.0000 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 364,000 kW capacity; 1,300 million kWh produced, 360 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $37 million, 3.8% of central government budget (1988 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 555 total, 429 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 39 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 10,940 km
Merchant marine: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,848 GRT/28,060 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 bulk
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs