Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of Indonesia. PNG was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. Its harsh geography of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s ethnic and linguistic diversity. 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. The New Guinea campaign of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth. Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement on the island province of Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders reached a cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans voted in favor of independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville and PNG governments are in the process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the PNG parliament.

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): (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
Note: 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

Land use
Agricultural land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 75.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 21.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers: Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km

Natural hazards: active volcanism; frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951, killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under 'Geography - note'

Geography
Note note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; highlands that trend from east to west break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps lies along the southwest coast
Note note 2: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

Population
Total: 10,046,233 (2024 est.)
Male: 5,092,262
Female: 4,953,971
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
Growth rate: 2.26% (2024 est.)

Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 living indigenous languages are spoken (about 12% of the world's total)
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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,902,272/female 1,825,471)
15-64 years: 58.9% (male 2,991,479/female 2,923,410)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 198,511/female 205,090)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 69.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 63 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 14.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 21.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 21.6 years
Female: 21.9 years

Population growth rate: 2.26% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 28.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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)

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: 0.97 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 189 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 32 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.3 years
Female: 71.9 years

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 55.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 49.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 81.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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 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

Legal system: mixed 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

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)
Cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, pending a National Parliament vote
Election results: James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Parliament
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 118 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022
Parties elected and seats per party: Papua & Niugini Union Pati (PANGU) (39); People's National Congress Party (PNC) (15); United Resource Party (URP) (11); Others (40); Independents (10)
Percentage of women in chamber: 2.7%
Expected date of next election: July 2,027

Flag description: divided diagonally from upper-left corner; the upper triangle is red and has a soaring yellow bird of paradise in the center; the lower triangle is black with five five-pointed white stars of the Southern Cross constellation

National anthem
Title: 'O Arise, All You Sons'
Lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
History: adopted 1975

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 5.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 4.1% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 5.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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: 17.2% (2024 est.)
Industry: 37.2% (2024 est.)
Services: 41.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.66 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $5.518 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $6.856 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 15.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $12.93 billion (2023 est.); $14.862 billion (2022 est.); $11.032 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: natural gas, gold, copper ore, palm oil, nickel (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $7.192 billion (2023 est.); $8.568 billion (2022 est.); $6.43 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, trucks, rice, plastic products, excavation machinery (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.148 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 328.234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 19% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 65.1%
Access electrification - rural areas: 14.2%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 76.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 159.656 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 677.736 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 10.892 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.798 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.467 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 1.33 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 8.781 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 166,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4.82 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 24% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 22,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 0.3% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 569 (2025)

Heliports: 3 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 205 (2023)
By type: container ship 6, general cargo 89, oil tanker 4, other 106