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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Unit)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 0.9% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,143,015 males fit for military service: 635,923 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

298,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

63,212 (1986 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

10,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.86 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% 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. PNG will receive loans totaling $350 million over the next two years from a variety of lenders including the Fund, the Bank, the Australian Government, and the Japanese Export-Import Bank. The loans will be provided only if Port Moresby implements significant reforms to liberalize trade and investment policies, reduce the public sector, and promote sustainable development of the forestry sector. At the start of 1996, Port Moresby is looking primarily to the exploitation of mineral and petroleum resources to drive economic development but new prospecting in Papua New Guinea has slumped as other mineral-rich countries have stepped up their competition for international investment. Output from current projects will probably begin to taper off in 1996, but no new large ventures are being developed to succeed them.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 490,000 kW production: 1.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 390 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7552 (October 1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports [time series]

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster partners: Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$3.2 billion (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $10.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$2,400 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

-3% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals partners: Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

1.941 million by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 461,690 sq km land area: 451,710 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than California

Climate [time series]

tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

5,152 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 820 km border country: Indonesia 820 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 71% other: 28%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Port Moresby

Constitution [time series]

16 September 1975

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kepas Isimel WATANGIA chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991), who was appointed by the National Executive Council head of government: Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since 30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994) were appointed by the governor general cabinet: National Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[675] 321-3423

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of A) [time series]

elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS

Suffrage [time series]

19 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. TEARE embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone: [675] 321-1455

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (male 906,709; female 860,534) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,303,084; female 1,195,245) 65 years and over: 3% (male 59,513; female 69,452) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

60.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 57.25 years male: 56.4 years female: 58.15 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

4,394,537 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.29% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 451 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 371 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 51 (1995 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 19,088 km paved: 640 km unpaved: 18,448 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,565 GRT/27,114 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

10,940 km