Statistical information Papua New Guinea 2023
Papua New Guinea in the World
Papua New Guinea - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
Papua New Guinea (PNG) was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. PNG’s harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s significant ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate - and eventually a colony - over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored.
The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975.
A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG Government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self-rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence. However, the PNG Government and Bougainville officials remain in negotiations about the status of the island.
The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975.
A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG Government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self-rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence. However, the PNG Government and Bougainville officials remain in negotiations about the status of the island.
Papua New Guinea - Geography 2023
top of pageLocation: 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 reference: Oceania
Area
Total: 462,840 km²
Land: 452,860 km²
Water: 9,980 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries
Total: 824 km
Border countries: (1) Indonesia 824 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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
Highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 667 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Forest: 63.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 34.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)
Major rivers
By length in km: Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 220 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 801 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural hazards: active volcanism; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Geography
Note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
Note 2: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea
Note 3: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
Papua New Guinea - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas: 9,819,350 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 2.31% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 37% (2002 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
Adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); many languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers
Note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
Religions: Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army 0.4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)
Note: data represent only the citizen population; roughly 0.3% of the population are non-citizens, consisting of Christian 52% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 10.7% , none 37.3%
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 37.34% (male 1,871,227/female 1,795,700)
15-64 years: 58.75% (male 2,917,668/female 2,851,691)
65 years and over: 3.9% (2023 est.) (male 189,851/female 193,213)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 60.5
Youth dependency ratio: 55.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 5
Potential support ratio: 20.1 (2021 est.)
Median age
Total: 21.6 years (2023 est.)
Male: 21.4 years
Female: 21.8 years
Population growth rate: 2.31% (2023 est.)
Birth rate: 28.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Urbanization
Urban population: 13.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas
Population: 410,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2023)
Environment
Current issues: rain forest loss as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; unsustainable logging practices result in soil erosion, water quality degredation, and loss of habitat and biodiversity; large-scale mining projects cause adverse impacts on forests and water quality (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; inappropriate farming practices accelerate land degradion (soil erosion, siltation, loss of soil fertility); destructive fishing practices and coastal pollution due to run-off from land-based activities and oil spills
International agreements party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International agreements signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 8.89 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.54 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 11.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2016/18)
Note: data represents median age a first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 192 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
Total: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 36.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 68 years
Female: 71.5 years
Total fertility rate: 3.85 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 36.7% (2016/18)
Drinking water source
Improved urban: 86.2% of population
Improved rural: 41.5% of population
Improved total: 47.5% of population
Unimproved urban: 13.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 58.5% of population
Unimproved total: 52.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure: 2.5% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density: 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
57.8% of population
rural: 18.2% of population
total: 23.5% of population
rural: 18.2% of population
total: 23.5% of population
Unimproved urban:
42.2% of population
rural: 81.8% of population
total: 76.5% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 81.8% of population
total: 76.5% of population (2020 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
Total: 39.3% (2020 est.)
Male: 53.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 25.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 64.2%
Male: 65.6%
Female: 62.8% (2015)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.3%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 4.2%
Papua New Guinea - Government 2023
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
Local short form: Papuaniugini
Former: German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Abbreviation: PNG
Etymology: the word "papua" derives from the Malay "papuah" describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesians; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island of New Guinea in 1545 after noting the resemblance of the locals to the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
Name: Port Moresby
Geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E
Time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Time zone note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)
Etymology: named in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY (1830-1922) in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877)
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
Dependent areas
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution
History: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975
Amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended - absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority; amended many times, last in 2016
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)
Head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister John ROSSO (since 25 May 2022)
Cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote
Election results: James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Parliament (118 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies - 89 local, 20 provincial, the autonomous province of Bouganville, and the National Capital District - by majority preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the constitution allows up to 126 seats
Elections: last held from 4-22 July 2022 (next to be held in June 2,027)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PANGU PATI - 38, PNC - 17, URP - 11, NAP - 5, PNC - 4, SDP - 4, PFP - 3, ULP - 3, Advance PNG - 2, National Party - 2, AP - 1, Destiny Party - 1, Greens - 1, Liberal Party - 1, MAP - 1, NGP - 1, ODP - 1, PLP - 1, PMC - 1, PPP - 1, PRP - 1, THE - 1, independents - 9; composition - NA
Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general upon advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA
Subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts
Political parties and leaders:
Advance PNG [Muglua DILU]
Allegiance Party or AP [Bryan KRAMER]
Destiny Party [Marsh NARAWEC]
Liberal Party [John PUNDARI]
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Joseph YOPYYOPY]
National Alliance Party or NAP [Patrick PRUAITCH]
New Generation Party or NGP [Keith IDUHU]
Our Development Party or ODP [Charles ABEL]
Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [James MARAPE]
Papua New Guinea Country Party or PNGCP [Chris HAIVETA]
Papua New Guinea Greens Party [Richard MASERE]
Papua New Guinea National Party [Kerenga KUA]
Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Belden NAMAH]
People's First Party or PFP [Richard MARU]
People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]
People's Movement for Change or PMC [Gary JAFFA]
People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL]
People's Party or PP [Peter IPATAS]
People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN]
People's Reform Party or PRP [James DONALD]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Powes PARKOP]
Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POLYE]
United Labor Party or ULP [Lekwa GURE]
United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]
Allegiance Party or AP [Bryan KRAMER]
Destiny Party [Marsh NARAWEC]
Liberal Party [John PUNDARI]
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Joseph YOPYYOPY]
National Alliance Party or NAP [Patrick PRUAITCH]
New Generation Party or NGP [Keith IDUHU]
Our Development Party or ODP [Charles ABEL]
Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [James MARAPE]
Papua New Guinea Country Party or PNGCP [Chris HAIVETA]
Papua New Guinea Greens Party [Richard MASERE]
Papua New Guinea National Party [Kerenga KUA]
Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Belden NAMAH]
People's First Party or PFP [Richard MARU]
People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]
People's Movement for Change or PMC [Gary JAFFA]
People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL]
People's Party or PP [Peter IPATAS]
People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN]
People's Reform Party or PRP [James DONALD]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Powes PARKOP]
Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POLYE]
United Labor Party or ULP [Lekwa GURE]
United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Cephas KAYO, Minister (since 31 January 2018)
In the us chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20,006
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 745-3,680
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 745-3,679
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Katherine Elizabeth "Kemy" MONAHAN (since 26 September 2023); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
From the us embassy: Harbour City Road, Port Moresby 121, NCD, Papua New Guinea
From the us mailing address: Harbour City Road, Port Moresby 121, NCD, Papua New Guinea
From the us telephone: [675] 308-2,100
From the us email address and website:
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; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South PacificNational symbols: bird of paradise; national colors: red, black
National anthem
Name: "O Arise All You Sons"
Lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
Note: adopted 1975
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:
Papua New Guinea - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy overview: lower middle-income Pacific island economy; primarily informal agrarian sector; natural resource-rich; key liquified natural gas exporter; growing young workforce; slow post-pandemic recovery; increasingly impoverished citizenry; sustainable inflation
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$36.589 billion (2021 est.)
$36.479 billion (2020 est.)
$37.672 billion (2019 est.)
$36.479 billion (2020 est.)
$37.672 billion (2019 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
0.3% (2021 est.)
-3.17% (2020 est.)
4.48% (2019 est.)
-3.17% (2020 est.)
4.48% (2019 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
$3,700 (2021 est.)
$3,700 (2020 est.)
$3,900 (2019 est.)
$3,700 (2020 est.)
$3,900 (2019 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 43.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 19.7% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 10% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 49.3% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -22.3% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.)
Industry: 42.9% (2017 est.)
Services: 35% (2017 est.)
Agriculture products: oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, fruit, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, roots/tubers nes, vegetables, taro
Industries: oil and gas; mining (gold, copper, and nickel); palm oil processing; plywood and wood chip production; copra crushing; construction; tourism; fishing; livestock (pork, poultry, cattle) and dairy farming; spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg)
Industrial production growth rate: -7.5% (2020 est.)
Labor force: 3.073 million (2021 est.)
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
2.75% (2021 est.)
2.6% (2020 est.)
2.45% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2020 est.)
2.45% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.3%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 4.2%
Population below poverty line: 37% (2002 est.)
Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 41.9 (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 1.7%
Highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Revenues: $4.039 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $5.135 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.88% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Public debt:
48.68% of GDP (2020 est.)
40.15% of GDP (2019 est.)
36.67% of GDP (2018 est.)
40.15% of GDP (2019 est.)
36.67% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue
From forest resources: 2.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
4.48% (2021 est.)
4.87% (2020 est.)
3.93% (2019 est.)
4.87% (2020 est.)
3.93% (2019 est.)
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:
$5.451 billion (2018 est.)
$5.348 billion (2017 est.)
$5.175 billion (2016 est.)
$5.348 billion (2017 est.)
$5.175 billion (2016 est.)
Exports:
$11 billion (2021 est.)
$9.36 billion (2020 est.)
$11 billion (2019 est.)
$9.36 billion (2020 est.)
$11 billion (2019 est.)
Note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Japan 25%, China 25%, Australia 16%, Taiwan 6%, South Korea 6% (2021)
Commodities: natural gas, gold, copper, palm oil, nickel, crude petroleum, lumber, refined petroleum, tuna, coffee (2021)
Imports:
$4.25 billion (2021 est.)
$3.77 billion (2020 est.)
$4.14 billion (2019 est.)
$3.77 billion (2020 est.)
$4.14 billion (2019 est.)
Partners: Australia 27%, China 25%, Singapore 13%, Malaysia 8%, Indonesia 5% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, rice, delivery trucks, excavation machinery, motor vehicle parts (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.339 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
$2.239 billion (31 December 2018 est.)
$1.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.239 billion (31 December 2018 est.)
$1.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
Debt external:
$17.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$18.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$18.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.509 (2021 est.)
3.46 (2020 est.)
3.388 (2019 est.)
3.293 (2018 est.)
3.189 (2017 est.)
3.46 (2020 est.)
3.388 (2019 est.)
3.293 (2018 est.)
3.189 (2017 est.)
Papua New Guinea - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification-total population: 20.9% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 65.1% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 14% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 1.139 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 3,701,693,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 340 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 80.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 37,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 38,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 60,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 27,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 159.7 million barrels (2021 est.)
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 22,170 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 17,110 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 11,784,065,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Consumption: 166.984 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Exports: 11,764,498,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.491 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 5.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 526,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 11.316 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Papua New Guinea - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 166,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4.8 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2021 est.)
Telephone system
Broadcast media: 4 TV stations: 1 commercial station operating since 1987, 1 state-run station launched in 2008, 1 digital free-to-view network launched in 2014, and 1 satellite network Click TV (PNGTV) launched in 2015; the state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2018)
Internet
Country code: .pg
Users total: 3.168 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 32% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 21,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)
Papua New Guinea - Military 2023
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and security forces:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Land Element, Maritime Element, Air Element
Ministry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2023)
Ministry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2023)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Papua New Guinea - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 964,713 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30.93 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P2
Airports: 561 (2021)
With paved runways: 21
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 540
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 264 km oil (2013)
Railways
Roadways
Total: 9,349 km (2011)
Paved: 3,000 km (2011)
Unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
Waterways: 11,000 km (2011)
Merchant marine
Total: 199 (2022)
By type: container ship 6, general cargo 87, oil tanker 3, other 103
Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
Lng terminals export: Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international: Papua New Guinea-Australia: 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 11,432 (Indonesia) (mid-year 2022)
IDPs: 91,000 (tribal conflict, inter-communal violence) (2022)
Stateless persons: 15 (2022)
Illicit drugs: transit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabis