Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios [time series]

410,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

44,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

42,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Debt - external [time series]

$2.4 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$400 million (1999 est.)

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 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. In 1997, 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. Despite problems with drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP. Growth increased to 3.6% in 1999 and may be even higher in 2000, say 4.3%.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.618 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.74 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 69.54% hydro: 30.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

kina (K) per US$1 - 2.7624 (November 1999), 2.520 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997), 1.318 (1996), 1.276 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish and prawns

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 20%, Japan 13%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5%, Philippines 4%, UK 3% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)

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

3.6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 51%, Singapore 10%, Japan 8%, US 5%, New Zealand 5%, Malaysia 3% (1998)

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) [time series]

16.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.941 million

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

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; 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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; tsunamis

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

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

Capital [time series]

Port Moresby

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]

PP

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 FAX: [675] 321-3423

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Mao ZEMING (since NA December 1999) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; 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

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, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, 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 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

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]

$42 million (FY98)

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

1% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,274,818 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 706,159 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 39% (male 972,289; female 940,049) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,470,158; female 1,365,523) 65 years and over: 3% (male 84,942; female 94,023) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

59.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 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: 63.1 years male: 61.05 years female: 65.26 years (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

4,926,984 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.47% (2000 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 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

492 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 473 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 402 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,417 GRT/52,432 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

10,940 km