Papua New Guinea

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

parliamentary democracy

Papua New Guinea as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPort Moresby

Position6 00 S, 147 00 E

Area462,840 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, 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

2000

Every edition of Papua New Guinea

Populationas each edition published it

4.93 million July 2000 est. · 3.82m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.47% 2000 est. · 2.32% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

63.1 years 2000 est. · 56.02 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.38 children per woman 2000 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

59.89 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 68 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,500 1999 est. · $850 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.6% 1999 est. · 8.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

Southeastern Asia, 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

18 fields

Land useshare of 462,840 sq km

arable land 0.1%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 92.9%other 6% (1993 est.)

Area

462,840sq km

land: 452,860 sq kmwater: 9,980 sq kmslightly larger than California

Coastline

5,152km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinescontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

4,509m

Mount Wilhelmlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

820km

border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Location

Southeastern Asia, 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 references

Oceania

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, fisheries

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

active volcanism;
situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire";
the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes;
mud slides;
tsunamis

Environment - current issues

rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber;
pollution from mining projects;
severe drought

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

4,926,984

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 2.47% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

32.68Death

8Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)63.1

61.05 · 65.26

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)72.2%

81% · 62.7%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Roman Catholic 22%Lutheran 16%Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%Anglican 5%Evangelical Alliance 4%Seventh-Day Adventist 1%other Protestant 10%indigenous beliefs 34%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 39% (male 972,289; female 940,049)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 1,470,158; female 1,365,523)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 84,942; female 94,023) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

59.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective:: Papua New Guinean

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

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997); Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

15%

PPP 15%Pangu Pati 14%PDM 8%PNC 6%PAP 5%UP 3%NP 1%PUP 1%independents 33%last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)

Legislature, 94 seats, elected 14-28 June 1997one dot, one seat

PPP 16Pangu Pati 15PDM 9PNC 7PAP 5UP 3NP 1PUP 1independents 37

Percent of vote

PPP 15%Pangu Pati 14%PDM 8%PNC 6%PAP 5%UP 3%NP 1%PUP 1%independents 33%

Country name

conventional long form:: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form:: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation:: PNG

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Port Moresby

Administrative divisions

20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence

16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

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 Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997)
head of government:: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Mao ZEMING (since NA December 1999)
cabinet:: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
governor general appointed by the National Executive Council;
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)
election results:: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%;
seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37;
note - association with political parties is very fluid

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission

Political parties and leaders

Black Action Party [Paul WANJIK];
Bougainville Unity Alliance or BUA [Samuel AKOITAI];
Christian Democratic Party [Dilu GOMA];
Hausman Party [Waim TOKAM];
League for National Advancement or LNA [leader NA];
Liberal Party [Rabbie SAMAI];
Melanesian Alliance or MA [Fr. John MOMIS];
Melanesian Labor Party [Paul MONDIA];
Milne Bay Party [Simon MUMURIK];
Movement for Greater Autonomy [Stephen POKAWIN];
National Alliance or NA [Michael SOMARE];
National Party or NP [Paul PORA];
Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's National Congress or PNC [Simon KAUMI] and Christian Country Party [Avusi TANO]);
Papua New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA];
People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO];
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Iario LASARO];
People's National Alliance [leader NA];
People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI];
People's Resources Awareness Party [leader NA];
People's Solidarity Party [Kala SWOKIM];
People's Unity Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE];
United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO];
United Resource Party [Masket IANGALIO]

International organization participation

ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery:: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX:: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy:: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address:: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
telephone:: [675] 321-1455
FAX:: [675] 321-3423

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

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure.

31 fields

Real growth rate

3.6%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

16.5%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

1.941million

Debt - external

$2.4billion

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 25%industry 35%services 40% (1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

20%

Australia

51%

13%

Japan

Singapore

10%

Germany

South Korea

New Zealand

Philippines

Malaysia

Exports $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)Imports $1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)(1998)

Budget

Revenues

$1.6 billionExpenditures

$1.9 billion (1998 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 69.54%hydro 30.46%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

1.74 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

1.618 billion (1998)

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 infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings.

Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings.

The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP. Growth increased to 3.6% in 1999 and may be even higher in 2000, say 4.3%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

(1995)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

44,000

(1995)

Telephone system

services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services

domestic:: mostly radiotelephone
international:: submarine cables to Australia and Guam;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

402

Paved 19Unpaved 473

Networkskm

Highways

19,600Railways

0Waterways

10,940

Highways: paved: 686 km · unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)

Highways

total:: 19,600 km
paved:: 686 km
unpaved:: 18,914 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Merchant marine

total:: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,417 GRT/52,432 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)