World Facts Index
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 of Papua New Guinea
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Location:
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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 |
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Coordinates:
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6 00 S, 147 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly larger than
California |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km |
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Coastline:
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5,152 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; northwest monsoon
(December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal
temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with
coastal lowlands and rolling foothills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold, copper, silver,
natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries |
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Natural hazards:
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active volcanism; situated
along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to
frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis |
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Environment current issues:
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rain forest subject to
deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical
timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
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Geography - note:
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shares island of New Guinea
with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
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Population of Papua New Guinea
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Population:
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5,931,769 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) |
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Median age:
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21.2 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.21% |
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Infant mortality:
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49.96 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 65.28 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 67.58 years |
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Fertility rate:
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3.88 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian,
Polynesian |
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Religions:
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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% |
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Languages:
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Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages -- many unrelated |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 66%
male: 72.3%
female: 59.3%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Independent
State of Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with parliamentary
democracy |
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Capital:
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Port Moresby |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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16 September 1975 (from the
Australian-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 16 September (1975) |
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Constitution:
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16 September 1975 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29
June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002);
Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by governor general on
recommendation of prime minister
elections: monarch is hereditary; governor general nominated by parliament and
appointed by chief of state; following legislative elections, leader of majority
party or leader of majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by
governor general. |
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Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
Economy
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation
has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing
infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the
population. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for
nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE
has expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime
minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government also brought
stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control;
however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections
approached. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining
investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting
economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing
relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural
challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and
chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia will supply more than
$300 million in aid in FY07/08, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national
budget.
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GDP:
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$12.05 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.9% |
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GDP per capita:
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$2,100 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 35.3%
industry: 38.1%
services: 26.6% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.7% |
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Labor force:
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3.4 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85% |
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Unemployment:
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up to 80% in urban areas |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.368 billion
expenditures: $1.354 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9% |
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Industries:
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copra crushing, palm oil processing,
plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production; construction, tourism |
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Agriculture:
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coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber,
sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork |
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Exports:
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oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil,
coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns |
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Export partners:
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Australia 27%, Japan 8.1%, China 5.5% |
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Imports:
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machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals |
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Import partners:
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Australia 54.4%, Singapore 13.9%, Japan 4.5% |
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Currency:
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kina (PGK) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |