Statistical information Papua New Guinea 1997Papua%20New%20Guinea

Map of Papua New Guinea | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Papua New Guinea in the World

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Papua New Guinea - Introduction 1997
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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.


Papua New Guinea - Geography 1997
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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 referenceOceania

Area
Total: 462,840 km²
Land: 452,860 km²
Water: 9,980 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 820 km
Border countries: (1) Indonesia 820 km

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing 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

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

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

Land use
Arable land: 0.1%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 92.9%
Other: 6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


Papua New Guinea - People 1997
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Population: 4,496,221 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 2.28% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
Adjective: Papua New Guinean

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

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 40% (male 921,227; female 874,290)
15-64 years: 57% (male 1,338,483; female 1,229,180)
65 years and over: 3% (male 61,082; female 71,959) (July 1997 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.28% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 32.65 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 9.83 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 58.6 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 57.65 years
Male: 56.78 years
Female: 58.56 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 72.2%
Male: 81%
Female: 62.7% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Papua New Guinea - Government 1997
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Country name
Conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
Abbreviation: PNG

Government type: 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

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991)
Head of government: Acting Prime Minister John GIHENO (since 27 March 1997); Acting Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 27 March 1997); note - John GIHENO and Andrew BAING assumed the respective posts of acting prime minister and acting deputy prime minister after Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (in office since 30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (in office since 7 September 1994) were required to step down during an inquiry into the government's hiring of mercenaries to assist the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces against Bougainville rebels; the inquiry is scheduled to conclude on 30 May 1997
Cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; 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 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held 14-28 June 1997)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is 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

International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, 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
In the us chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 745-3,680
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 745-3,679
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
From the us embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
From the us telephone: [675] 321-1455
From the us FAX: [675] 321-3,423

Flag descriptionflag of Papua%20New%20Guinea: 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Papua New Guinea - Economy 1997
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Economy 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. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. A second phase structural adjustment loan will be negotiated in 1997. The structural adjustment program includes liberalization of trade and investment policies, sustainable development of the forestry sector, improvement of government planning capacity and better delivery of public services. New gold and oil projects are under development and planned to begin production in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.3% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 27%
Industry: 42%
Services: 31%

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

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%

Labor force
Total: 1.941 million
By occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.5 billion
Expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports
Total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster
Partners: Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

Imports
Total value: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Partners: Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $3.2 billion (1995)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7451 (December 1996), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992; note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994


Papua New Guinea - Energy 1997
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Electricity
Capacity: 252,000 kW (1992)
Production: 1.71 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 382 kWh (1995 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Papua New Guinea - Communication 1997
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Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.)

Telephone system: 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

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Papua New Guinea - Military 1997
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $63 million (1997; note - includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures
Percent of gdp: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Papua New Guinea - Transportation 1997
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 451 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 387
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 370 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 64
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 52 (1996 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways: 10,940 km

Merchant marine
Total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,614 GRT/29,643 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)

Ports and terminals


Papua New Guinea - Transnational issues 1997
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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs


Iberostar Hotels


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