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.

Map reference: Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 461,690 km²
Land: 451,710 km²

Land boundaries: total 820 km, Indonesia 820 km

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to 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

Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 71%
Other: 28%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: some active volcanoes; frequent earthquakes

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

Population: 4,196,806 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.31% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Papua New Guinean(s)

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%

Population growth rate: 2.31% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 33.5 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 10.38 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; pollution from mining projects

Infant mortality rate: 63.3 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 56.43 years
Male: 55.6 years
Female: 57.31 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.65 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 52%
Male: 65%
Female: 38%

Government type: parliamentary democracy

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

Independence: 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
Head of government: Prime Minister Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since July 1992)

Legislative branch: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
National Parliament: (sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly) elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18 (association with political parties is fluid)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Richard TEARE
From the us chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
From the us telephone: [675] 211-455 or 594, 654
From the us fax: (202) 745-3,679
From the us embassy: Armit Street, Port Moresby
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96,553
From the us FAX: [675] 213-423

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

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 85% of the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. Robust growth in 1991-92 was led by the mining sector; the opening of a large new gold mine helped the advance. The economy remained strong in 1993, primarily because of continued growth in the mining and oil sectors.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.2% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,000 (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: Accounts for 28% of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population; fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of crops; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other products - tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork; net importer of food for urban centers

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

Industrial production growth rate: 21% (1992; accounts for 31% of GDP

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$1.33 billion

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster
Partners: Australia, Japan, South Korea, UK, US

Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Partners: Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand, UK

Debt external: $2.2 billion (April 1991)

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 1.0281 (January 1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991), 1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 400,000 kW
Production: 1.6 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 400 kWh (1992)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.8% of GDP (1993 est.)

Airports: 504
Usable: 462
With permanentsurface runways: 18
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 39

Waterways: 10,940 km

Merchant marine: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,337 GRT/25,669 DWT, bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1

Disputes international: none