View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1997 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

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]

Televisions [time series]

10,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Debt - external [time series]

$3.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)

Economic overview (Economy - 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. 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. A second phase structural adjustment loan will be negotiated in 1997. The structural adjustment program includes liberalization of trade and investment policies, sustainable development of the forestry sector, improvement of government planning capacity and better delivery of public services. New gold and oil projects are under development and planned to begin production in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

252,000 kW (1992)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

382 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.71 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7451 (December 1996), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster partners : Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1996 est.)

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

agriculture : 27% industry: 42% services: 31%

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

purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)

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

2.3% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.3 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; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

6% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water : 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 820 km border countries : Indonesia 820 km

Land use [time series]

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

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

16 September 1975

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN 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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991) head of government : Acting Prime Minister John GIHENO (since 27 March 1997); Acting Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 27 March 1997); note - John GIHENO and Andrew BAING assumed the respective posts of acting prime minister and acting deputy prime minister after Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (in office since 30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (in office since 7 September 1994) were required to step down during an inquiry into the government's hiring of mercenaries to assist the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces against Bougainville rebels; the inquiry is scheduled to conclude on 30 May 1997 cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; 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

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

[1] (202) 745-3679

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

[675] 321-3423

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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 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 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held 14-28 June 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Port Moresby

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), Roy YAKI; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; People's United Party (PUP), David UNASI; National Party (NP), Mathias IJAPE; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Alliance (NA), Sir Michael SOMARE; Movement For Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Black Action Party (BAP), John WAIKO; League for National Advancement (LNA), Thomas PELIKA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$63 million (1997); note - includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,174,591 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 653,179 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 40% (male 921,227; female 874,290) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,338,483; female 1,229,180) 65 years and over: 3% (male 61,082; female 71,959) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.65 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 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: 57.65 years male: 56.78 years female: 58.56 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

4,496,221 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.28% (1997 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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none PARACEL ISLANDS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

451 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 387 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 370 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m : 12 914 to 1,523 m: 52 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 19,400 km paved: 660 km unpaved: 18,740 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,614 GRT/29,643 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

10,940 km