View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2004 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.pg

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

389 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

75,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: country code - 675; 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]

62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

15,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $954.1 million expenditures: $996.8 million, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

kina (PGK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

PGK

Current account balance [time series]

$12 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$2.909 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

50.9 (1996)

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 rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The economy has faltered over the past four years. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the backing of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including curbing inflation, gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.391 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.496 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

kina per US dollar - 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000), 2.5708 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$1.938 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 25.6%, Japan 7.4%, China 5.8% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $11.48 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 34% industry: 37.7% services: 28.3% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2003 est.)

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

1.4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$967 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 44.6%, Singapore 20.6%, New Zealand 7.7%, China 5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA (FY01/02 est.)

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]

14.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

13.9% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

3.25 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

385.5 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

67,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

345.2 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

37% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

72.4% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$510.5 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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; severe drought

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

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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: 0.46% permanent crops: 1.44% other: 98.1% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring 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

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

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 former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, 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 Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant) 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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general

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]

constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not later than June 2007 election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party - National Alliance 19, UPR 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, Pangu 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political parties is fluid (2003)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

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

Christian Democratic Party [Dr.Banare BUN, party leader]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Party [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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

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

Papua New Guinea Defense Force: Ground Force, Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$16.9 million (2003)

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

1.4% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,403,467 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 775,064 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.3% (male 1,053,940; female 1,019,492) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,622,124; female 1,519,104) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 96,638; female 108,982) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

16,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 53.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 57.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages -- many unrelated

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.56 years male: 62.41 years female: 66.81 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.6% male: 71.1% female: 57.7% (2002)

Median age [time series]

total: 21 years male: 21.1 years female: 20.8 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

5,420,280 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.3% (2004 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: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.04 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

seeks assistance from Australia to control illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including smuggling, drug trafficking, and Indonesian squatters and secessionists

Transportation

Airports [time series]

559 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 550 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 264 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Waterways [time series]

10,940 km (2003)