Papua New Guinea Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Papua New Guinea, State of the Western Pacific; 462,840 km², 8.6 million residents (2019).Papua New Guinea encompasses eastern New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Trobriand Islands, the Louisiads and D’Entrecasteaux Islands as well as the islands of Bougainville and Buka among the Solomon Islands. The capital is Port Moresby (317,400 residents, 2012).

Country facts

Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
Country abbreviation: PG
Area: 462 840 km²
Population (2019): 8.6 million residents
Capital: Port Moresby
Main language: English, took pisin
State: Monarchy
Head of State: Elizabeth II (Queen)
Head of Government: James Marape
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 2,723
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 2,530
Coin unit: 1 china = 100 toea
Country number (telephony): 675
Currency code: PGK
Time difference compared to Sweden: +9
Internet domain name: pg
National Day: September 16 (Independence Day, 1975)

Nature

Land use: forest (92%), agricultural land (2%), other (6%)
Highest mountain: Mount Wilhelm (4 509 m above sea level)

Population

Population density (2019): 18 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.2%; birthrate 33 ‰, death count 11 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (36%), 15-64 (61%), 65- (3%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 63 years, women 68 years
Infant mortality (2019): 42 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 13 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.544 (place 153 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 13%
Most popular cities (2012): Port Moresby (317,400 residents), Lae (100,700)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (22%), industry (43%), service (35%)
Exports (2017): US $ 8,522 million
Main export products: oil, gold, copper
Main exporting countries: Australia, Singapore, Japan
Imports (2017): US $ 1,876 million
Main import products: machinery, transport, food
Main importing countries: Australia, China, Singapore
Railway network: nothing in operation

Most of the country, located in eastern New Guinea, is covered by a mountain range with many snow-capped peaks; the southern part is a wavy plain. Along the north coast and on islands in the Bismarck archipelago and Lake Solomon there are active volcanoes. The country has a tropical rainy climate.

The country is an independent member of the Commonwealth, and the British monarch is head of state but is represented by a general governor. Parliament is elected in general elections every five years. Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975.

A large part of the population still lives on self-sustaining agriculture. The country’s economy has traditionally been heavily dependent on raw material exports from the mining and oil industry. Another important source of income is agricultural products, especially copra, coffee, palm oil and cocoa. Exports of forest products, which were previously a major industry, have declined in recent years after the government withdrew tax relief for forest companies. The country receives extensive assistance from mainly Australia and Japan.