View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1998 CSV Excel Print All Years

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 (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. 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. Moreover, droughts could bite into growth in 1998.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

490,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

410 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

1.76 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

kina (K) per US$1-0.6299 (November 1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993); note-the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, coffee, palm oil, cocoa, lobster partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$11.6 billion (1996 est.)

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

agriculture: 26.4% industry: 41% services: 32.6% (1996 est.)

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

purchasing power parity-$2,650 (1996 est.)

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

2.3% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals partners: Australia, US, Singapore, Japan, UK

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]

11.6% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 1.941 million by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 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]

Televisions [time series]

10,000 (1992 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 (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 (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note (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 Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Michael NALI (since 16 December 1997); note-NALI replaces Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994) who Prime Minister SKATE fired on 12 December 1997 for his alleged role in trying to discredit SKATE 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, ASEAN (observer), 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, 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 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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Port Moresby

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

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

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

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 (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 (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,206,458 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 670,510 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (male 936,206; female 888,427) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,374,471; female 1,263,750) 65 years and over: 3% (male 62,593; female 74,338) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.37 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

57.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 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: 58.06 years male: 57.18 years female: 58.98 years (1998 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 (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

4,599,785 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.27% (1998 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: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.26 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none PARACEL ISLANDS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

495 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 476 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 404 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,859 GRT/45,270 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1997 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

10,940 km