CapitalPort Moresby
Population10,273,996
Area462,840 km²
GDP per capita$4,300
LanguagesThe official languages include Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu, alongside approximately 839 indigenous languages, which represent around of the global total.
Currencykina
Life Expectancy70.1 yr
Governmenta parliamentary democracy functioning under a constitutional monarchy; it is a Commonwealth realm.
Introduction
Background
Papua New Guinea (PNG) encompasses the eastern section of the island of New Guinea, while the western section belongs to Indonesia. Human settlement in PNG dates back between 50,000 and 60,000 years. The region's rugged terrain, characterized by mountains, jungles, and a multitude of river valleys, resulted in the isolation of many incoming groups, fostering PNG’s rich ethnic and linguistic variety. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian navigators established communities along the coastline. From the 1500s onwards, Spanish and Portuguese explorers made occasional visits to the island, though none ventured into the interior. In the mid-1800s, American and British whalers frequented the waters off New Guinea's coasts. In 1884, Germany proclaimed a protectorate—subsequently a colony—over the northern portion of what would later be known as PNG, naming it German New Guinea; shortly thereafter, the UK claimed the southern region and adjacent islands, referring to it as Papua. Their attention was primarily directed at the coastal areas, leaving the highlands predominantly uncharted.
In 1902, the UK placed its colony under Australian administration, formalizing this arrangement in 1906. Following the onset of World War I, Australian forces occupied German New Guinea and continued to govern it as a League of Nations Mandate post-war. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River during the 1920s attracted prospectors to the highlands, where they encountered approximately 1 million individuals residing in isolated communities. The New Guinea campaign during World War II spanned from January 1942 until the Japanese capitulation in August 1945. After the conflict, Australia merged the two territories and managed PNG as a UN trusteeship. PNG achieved independence in 1975 and subsequently joined the Commonwealth.
From 1988 to 1997, a secessionist movement in the island province of Bougainville, situated off the eastern coast of PNG, clashed with the PNG Government, leading to an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fatalities. In 1997, a cease-fire was agreed upon between the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders, culminating in a peace agreement signed in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was officially established in 2005. In a 2019 non-binding referendum, Bougainvilleans expressed their preference for independence. Currently, the Bougainville and PNG governments are engaged in negotiations to create a roadmap for independence, pending approval from the PNG parliament.
Geography
Area
land
452,860 sq km
water
9,980 sq km
total
462,840 sq km
Climate
tropical; northwest monsoon season (December to March), southeast monsoon season (May to October); minimal seasonal temperature fluctuations
Terrain
predominantly mountainous terrain interspersed with coastal lowlands and undulating foothills
Land use
other
21.7% (2023 est.)
forest
75.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
3.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Oceania, encompassing a cluster of islands that includes the eastern section of New Guinea, situated between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, positioned eastward of Indonesia
Coastline
5,152 km
Elevation
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
mean elevation
667 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total
824 km
border countries
Indonesia 824 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
notable volcanic activity; regular and at times intense seismic events; mudslides; tsunamis
volcanism: significant volcanic occurrences; Ulawun (2,334 m), recognized as one of Papua New Guinea's most hazardous volcanoes, has been classified as a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, meriting research due to its explosive past and proximity to populated areas; Rabaul (688 m) devastated the city of Rabaul in 1937 and again in 1994; Lamington's eruption in 1951 resulted in 3,000 fatalities; the eruption of Manam in 2004 led to the island's evacuation; other historically significant volcanoes are Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; refer to note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note
note 1: shares the island of New Guinea with Indonesia; highland regions extending from east to west divide New Guinea into various ecoregions; one of the largest swamps in the world is located along the southwestern coastline
note 2: Papua New Guinea is situated along the Ring of Fire, a region encircling the Pacific Ocean that houses approximately 75% of the globe's volcanoes and nearly 90% of the planet's earthquakes
Natural resources
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Area - comparative
slightly larger than the state of California
Geographic coordinates
6 00 S, 147 00 E
Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the highland regions and eastern coastal zones of New Guinea; predominantly rural, with around one-fifth of the populace living in urban settings
Major rivers (by length in km)
Sepik River source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly River source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km
People & Society
Literacy
male
78.4% (2017 est.)
female
61.6% (2017 est.)
total population
70.1% (2017 est.)
Languages
The official languages include Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu, alongside approximately 839 indigenous languages, which represent around 12% of the global total.
Religions
Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army 0.4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
total population
1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.97 male(s)/female
Birth rate
27.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
21.6 years
total
21.9 years (2025 est.)
female
21.9 years
Population
male
5,206,211
total
10,273,996 (2025 est.)
female
5,067,785
Nationality
noun
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective
Papua New Guinean
Tobacco use
male
53.4% (2025 est.)
total
38.9% (2025 est.)
female
23.8% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
13.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
37.1% (male 1,902,272/female 1,825,471)
15-64 years
58.9% (male 2,991,479/female 2,923,410)
65 years and over
4% (2024 est.) (male 198,511/female 205,090)
Ethnic groups
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
People - note
Papua New Guinea's indigenous populace is among the most diverse globally; it comprises several thousand distinct communities, many with populations in the hundreds; these groups, defined by their languages, customs, and traditions, have historically engaged in minor tribal conflicts with neighboring groups for centuries; the introduction of modern weaponry and an influx of migrants into urban areas have significantly intensified the effects of this disorder.
Child marriage
men married by age 18
3.7% (2018)
women married by age 15
8% (2018)
women married by age 18
27.3% (2018)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
69.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
62.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
14.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
7 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 44.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 50.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 55.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 49.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
3.5% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.22% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.82 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The population is primarily located in the highland regions and the eastern coastal zones of New Guinea; it is mainly rural, with only about 20% of individuals living in urban settings.
Life expectancy at birth
male
68.3 years
female
71.9 years
total population
70.1 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
189 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 18.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 81.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
410,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.9 years (2016/18)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.9% (2018 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); minor seasonal temperature fluctuations
Land use
other
21.7% (2023 est.)
forest
75.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
3.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
13.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
6.3% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation driven by commercial demand for tropical timber; soil erosion, deterioration of water quality, and habitat loss due to logging; impacts of extensive mining operations (release of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into waterways); extreme drought; land degradation caused by inadequate agricultural practices; unsustainable fishing methods; coastal contamination arising from runoff and oil spills
Total water withdrawal
municipal
223.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
167.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
5.798 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
1.33 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
801 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Government
Flag
description: diagonally divided from the top-left corner; the upper triangle is red, featuring a soaring yellow bird of paradise at its center, while the lower triangle is black adorned with five five-pointed white stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
meaning: the colors red, black, and yellow are traditional to the nation; the bird of paradise serves as a symbol of the local tribal culture and signifies the rise of Papua New Guinea as an independent country; the Southern Cross denotes the nation's ties with Australia and various nations in the South Pacific.
Capital
name
Port Moresby
etymology
designated in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY to honor his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877).
time zone note
Papua New Guinea operates within two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11).
time difference
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time).
geographic coordinates
9 27 S, 147 11 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
8 years
Constitution
history
officially adopted on 15 August 1975, becoming effective upon independence on 16 September 1975.
amendment process
the amendments are proposed by the National Parliament; passage requires a majority vote based on the constitutional sections involved – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority.
Country name
former
German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea.
etymology
the name originates from the Malay term pua-pua, which refers to the tightly curled hair of the Papuan populace; in 1545, Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ labeled the island "Nueva Guinea" due to his belief that the inhabitants resembled those from the Guinea coast of Africa.
abbreviation
PNG
local short form
Papuaniugini
conventional long form
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form
Papua New Guinea
Independence
16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system combining English common law and customary law.
Government type
a parliamentary democracy functioning under a constitutional monarchy; it is a Commonwealth realm.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Supreme Court includes the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices; National Courts encompass 13 courts situated in provincial capitals, totaling 19 resident judges.
subordinate courts
district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts.
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the governor general based on recommendations from the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consulting with the National Justice Administration minister; the deputy chief justice and other justices are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member entity that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a National Parliament member; full-time citizen judges are appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges are initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and can serve until the age of 70 after the first renewal; the appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges is not available.
Executive branch
cabinet
National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017).
election results
James MARAPE has been reelected as prime minister; the National Parliament vote recorded 105 out of 118.
head of government
Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general is nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the head of state; typically, after legislative elections, the governor general appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister, pending a vote in the National Parliament.
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
National color(s)
red, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Kuk Early Agricultural Site
Political parties
Destiny Party
Liberal Party
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP
Melanesian Liberal Party or MLP
National Alliance Party or NAP
Our Development Party or ODP
Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI
Papua New Guinea Greens Party
Papua New Guinea National Party
Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP
People's First Party or PFP
People's Movement for Change or PMC
People's National Congress Party or PNC
People’s National Party
People's Party or PP
People's Progress Party or PPP
People's Reform Party or PRP
Social Democratic Party or SDP
Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE
United Labor Party or ULP
United Resources Party or URP
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
118 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Parliament
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022
expected date of next election
July 2027
percentage of women in chamber
2.7%
parties elected and seats per party
Papua & Niugini Union Pati (PANGU) (39); People's National Congress Party (PNC) (15); United Resource Party (URP) (11); Others (40); Independents (10).
National anthem(s)
title
"O Arise, All You Sons"
history
adopted 1975
lyrics/music
Thomas SHACKLADY
National symbol(s)
bird of paradise
National coat of arms
the coat of arms of Papua New Guinea was adopted on July 1, 1971, featuring the nation's national symbol, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise; the bird embodies the freedom and natural richness of the country; the traditional spear beneath the bird signifies the various ethnic groups and the safeguarding of their heritage, while the Kundu drum, used in ceremonies, represents local artistic practices and communication.
Administrative divisions
comprises 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; the provinces include Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik.
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 745-3679
chancery
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 745-3680
chief of mission
Ambassador Arnold Karibone AMET (since 5 September 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
http://www.pngembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Harbour City Road, Konedobu, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea.
telephone
[675] 308-9100
mailing address
4240 Port Moresby Pl, Washington DC 20521-4240
chief of mission
Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 22 February 2024); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
email address and website
[email protected]
https://pg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not made a declaration concerning ICJ jurisdiction; a non-party state to the ICCt.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$5.518 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$6.856 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$11.032 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$14.862 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$12.93 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$6.43 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$8.568 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$7.192 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
oil and gas; mining (gold, copper, and nickel); processing of palm oil; production of plywood and wood chips; copra crushing; construction; tourism; fishing; livestock (pork, poultry, cattle) and dairy farming; spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg)
Labor force
3.66 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
52.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
kina (PGK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019
3.388 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
3.46 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
3.509 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
3.519 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3.59 (2023 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$7.011 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
lower-middle-income economy in the Pacific Islands; predominantly informal agrarian sector; rich in natural resources and a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas; factors contributing to declining inflation include a drop in betel nut prices, stricter monetary policy, and better foreign-exchange availability; challenges encompass insufficient infrastructure development, agricultural reform, and corruption
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
2.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
2.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 28%, Japan 25%, Australia 17%, Taiwan 8%, India 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
Australia 27%, China 24%, Singapore 15%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$4,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
oil palm fruit, coconuts, bananas, fruits, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, root vegetables, vegetables, sugarcane (2023)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, gold, copper ore, palm oil, nickel (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, trucks, rice, plastic products, excavation machinery (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
$3.284 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$4.567 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$4.183 billion (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
15.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$32.538 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
43.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption
19.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories
0.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital
10% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services
49.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services
-22.3% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.6% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
3.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$42.093 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$43.697 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$45.487 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
4.6% (2024 est.)
total
3.8% (2024 est.)
female
3% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.24 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$3.983 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.901 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
37.2% (2024 est.)
services
41.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
17.2% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
159.656 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
1.148 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
328.234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
10.892 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
677.736 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
14.2%
electrification - urban areas
65.1%
electrification - total population
19% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.781 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal
2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
76.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
24% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
There are 5 television broadcasters: 1 commercial (TV Wan), 2 government-operated (National Broadcasting Corporation and EMTV); 1 digital free-to-view service, and 1 satellite channel (Click TV or PNGTV); the government-operated NBC manages 3 radio networks along with numerous repeaters and approximately 20 provincial stations; various commercial radio services with multiple transmission locations are also present, in addition to several community radio stations; broadcasts from multiple international channels can be received (2023)
Internet country code
.pg
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
166,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
39 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
22,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
6
medium
0
key ports
Kavieng Harbor, Kieta, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Vanimo, Wewak Harbor
very small
16
total ports
22 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
8
Airports
569 (2025)
Heliports
3 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
205 (2023)
by type
6 container ships, 89 general cargo vessels, 4 oil tankers, 106 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
P2
Military & Security
Military - note
The Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) is responsible for safeguarding the nation and its territories from external threats, alongside handling internal security and promoting socio-economic development. In response to inter-tribal conflicts in Wapenamanda in 2024, the PNGDF was granted arrest authority.
Since 2023, Papua New Guinea has entered into bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Australia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The defense cooperation agreement with the United States, established in 2023, permits the US military to develop and utilize bases within Papua New Guinea, contingent upon the approval of the PNG Government. Additionally, Papua New Guinea maintains military relations with France and New Zealand and has initiated discussions for a security cooperation agreement with China.
Founded in 1973, the PNGDF's chief combat unit, the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR), traces its lineage to Australian Army infantry battalions composed of indigenous soldiers and commanded by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers, which were established during World War II to combat the Japanese. Although the RPIR was disbanded post-war, it was reconstituted in 1951 as part of the Australian Army, continuing its service until Papua New Guinea achieved independence in 1975, at which point it became an integral part of the PNGDF (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Comprising Land, Air, and Maritime components.
Ministry of Internal Security: Oversees the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Voluntary military service for both men and women ranges from ages 18 to 27 (30 for officers); there is no conscription in place (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The PNGDF is equipped with light armaments; the Land Force lacks heavy weaponry, while the Air and Maritime forces possess a limited number of light aircraft and small patrol vessels supplied by Australia and New Zealand (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 4,000 active PNGDF (2025)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea fails to fully satisfy the minimum criteria for the eradication of trafficking and is not demonstrating substantial efforts to improve this situation; consequently, Papua New Guinea has been maintained on Tier 3; for further information, please visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/papua-new-guinea/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
107,985 (2024 est.)
refugees
10,983 (2024 est.)
