Papua New Guinea
Country Guide

Explore Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea with its capital Port Moresby is located in Oceania (Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 462,841 square kilometers (slightly larger than California) with a population of 6,909,700. English and Hiri Motu are the languages spoken by people in Papua New Guinea. As an interesting fact, Indonesia is the only bordering country.

Papua New Guinea is an island nation in Oceania. The country can be conveniently divided into 11 regions (7 on the main island and 4 island regions). In 2009, Papua New Guinea received 125,000 visitors, but only around 20% of these declared themselves as tourists. The country offers the traveler a true paradox. With little tourist infrastructure outside the main tourist areas, getting around can be tough. Tourism is well developed and growing in a handful of locations. Beyond these, the country is 120% adventure travel and not for the inexperienced or faint of heart.

Popular Destinations in Papua New Guinea

Administrative regions of Papua New Guinea

• Bougainville
• Central Province
• Chimbu Province
• East New Britain Province
• East Sepik Province
• Eastern Highlands Province
• Enga Province
• Gulf Province
• Hela
• Jiwaka
• Madang Province
• Manus Province
• Milne Bay Province
• Morobe Province
• National Capital District
• New Ireland Province
• Northern Province
• Southern Highlands Province
• West New Britain Province
• West Sepik Province
• Western Highlands Province
• Western Province

About the country

The topography is mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills. The average density of population is about 15 per km². The climate in Papua New Guinea can be described as tropicalnorthwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October), slight seasonal temperature variation. Potential natural disasters are active volcanism, mud slides, 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 , situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes and tsunamis.

To reach someone Papua New Guinea dial +675 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".pg". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 240 V - 50 Hz (plugs: I). The sign for the locally used currency Kina is PGK.

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 Pacific.

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. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy. Under the terms of a peace accord, 2015 is the year that a five-year window opens for a referendum on the question of independence.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 56)	462,840	sq km
Land (World Rank: 54)	452,860	sq km
Water (World Rank: 49)	9,980	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 197)	0.40	%
Comparative	slightly larger than California
Coastline
5152
Landborder
824
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 36)	4,509	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 215)	2.60	%
Arable (World Rank: 204)	0.70	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 104)	1.50	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 197)	0.40	%
Map reference
Oceania
Environment
Issues	- pollution from mining projects - rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber - severe drought
Agreement party	- Antarctic Treaty - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Marine Dumping - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Tropical Timber 83 - Tropical Timber 94 - Wetlands
Hazzards	- active volcanism - mud slides - 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 - situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" - the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes - tsunamis
Location
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
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 105)	6,909,700
Deathrate (World Rank: 140)	0.66	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 60)	2.37	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 61)	1.71	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 53)	3.03	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 164)	23.20
Female (World Rank: 171)	23.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 92)	1,175,930
0 14 female (World Rank: 91)	1,133,880
15 24 male (World Rank: 91)	697,463
15 24 female (World Rank: 90)	678,680
25 54 male (World Rank: 108)	1,309,840
25 54 female (World Rank: 110)	1,238,970
55 64 male (World Rank: 119)	193,273
55 64 female (World Rank: 125)	185,931
65 x male (World Rank: 117)	148,802
65 x female (World Rank: 130)	146,921
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 50)	3.63	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 168)	67	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 168)	70	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 166)	65	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 170)	0.06
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 197)	18.90	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 91)	21.30	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 205)	40.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 127)	3,620,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 132)	3,367,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 124)	62.10	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 65)	31.10	%
Source renew (World Rank: 81)	6.80	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 50)	55,990	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 53)	17,400	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 69)	14,880	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 61)	159,400,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 86)	28,340	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 110)	42,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 85)	8,062	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 115)	21,180	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 41)	9,800,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 104)	680,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 21)	9,700,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
3700000

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Nation

Budget
Military (World Rank: 135)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 161)	4	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 149)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
bird of paradise
National colours
red
Adjective
Papua New Guinean
Noun
Papua New Guinean(s)
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. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy. Under the terms of a peace accord, 2015 is the year that a five-year window opens for a referendum on the question of independence.
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 Pacific

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 133)	29,400,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 116)	2.40	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 178)	3,700	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 44)	21.50	%
Source industry (World Rank: 16)	42.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 215)	35.70	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 99)	3,598,000
In poverty (World Rank: 43)	37.00	%
Products
Industries	- construction - copper - copra crushing - crude oil - gold - mining - palm oil processing - petroleum products - plywood production - silver - tourism - wood chip production
Agriculture	- cocoa - coffee - copra - fruit - palm kernels - pork - poultry - rubber - shellfish - sugar - sweet potatoes - tea - vanilla - vegetables
Exports	- cocoa - coffee - copper ore - crayfish - gold - logs - oil - palm oil - prawns
Imports	- chemicals - food - fuels - machinery - manufactured goods - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 128)	154,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 179)	2.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 197)	56.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 143)	652,071
Population (World Rank: 211)	9.60	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 77)	21.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 10)	540
Heliports (World Rank: 56)	2.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 139)	9,349
Paved length (World Rank: 116)	3,000
Unpaved length (World Rank: 100)	6,349
Water
Total length (World Rank: 11)	11,000

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