The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Oceania

Background Papua New Guinea, in 26 editions.

The entry for Papua New Guinea published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 9 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
9
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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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.

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. PNG’s Its harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s significant ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. 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. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the The New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975. the Commonwealth.
A Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement in Bougainville, an on the island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx province of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG Government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting civil war led to about 20,000 in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed leaders reached a truce in 1997 cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001, which granted 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self-rule occurred voted in November 2019, with 98% favor of voters opting for independence. However, the PNG Government and independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville officials remain and PNG governments are in negotiations about the status process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the island. PNG parliament.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Papua New Guinea: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/papua-new-guinea/background.

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