Country Profile: Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is an island nation located in Oceania that encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea, boasting a rich cultural heritage and remarkable geographical diversity. The country is home to over 10 million people, characterized by its ethnic and linguistic variety, with around 839 living indigenous languages. While endowed with abundant natural resources, including gold and natural gas, PNG faces economic challenges, including infrastructure issues and corruption. The governance structure is a parliamentary democracy, operating under a constitutional monarchy.

Geography

Papua New Guinea is situated in Oceania, comprising the eastern half of New Guinea and numerous surrounding islands, bordered by Indonesia to the west. The country features a rugged terrain dominated by mountains, with a mean elevation of 667 meters and its highest point being Mount Wilhelm at 4,509 meters. PNG has a tropical climate and is prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, being located along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Total area: 462,840 sq km (slightly larger than California)
Coastline: 5,152 km
Land use: 79% forested and only 3.1% agricultural land (2022 est.)
Natural resources: Includes gold, copper, silver, natural gas and timber
Major rivers: Sepik River (1,126 km), Fly River (1,050 km)

People and Society

Papua New Guinea has an estimated population of 10,046,233 as of 2024, predominantly Melanesian, with significant representation of various ethnic groups. The official languages are Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu, alongside a remarkable linguistic diversity of 839 indigenous languages. The nation maintains a youthful demographic with a median age of 21.7 years and a high birth rate of 28.1 births per 1,000 population.

Life expectancy: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Urban population: Only 13.7% of the total population (2023)
Literacy rate: 70.1% (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths per 1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born per woman (2024 est.)

Economy

Papua New Guinea's economy is classified as lower-middle-income, characterized by an informal agrarian sector and rich natural resources. The country is a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas with a real GDP (PPP) projected at $45.487 billion in 2024. Despite its resource wealth, PNG faces challenges such as infrastructure deficits and corruption that hinder economic growth.

Real GDP growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Exports: Approximately $12.93 billion (2023 est.)
Imports: Around $7.192 billion (2023 est.)

Government

Papua New Guinea operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with the King of the United Kingdom serving as the head of state. The capital city is Port Moresby. PNG is divided into 20 provinces plus one autonomous region, Bougainville. The legal system includes a mix of English common law and customary law, with the Constitution adopted at independence on September 16, 1975.

Chief of state: King Charles III (since September 8, 2022), represented by Governor General Sir Bob Dadae
Head of government: Prime Minister James Marape (since May 30, 2019)
Legislative body: Unicameral National Parliament with 118 seats
Next election: Anticipated in July 2027

Military and Security

The Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) comprises land, maritime, and air components dedicated to national defense and internal security. The country has established various defense cooperation agreements with nations including the US and Australia. As of 2025, it is estimated that the PNGDF consists of about 4,000 active personnel.

Military expenditures: 0.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Service age: 18-27 for voluntary service; no conscription
Military equipment: Mainly light aircraft and small patrol boats supplied by Australia

Energy

Electricity access remains limited in Papua New Guinea, with only 19% of the population electrified as of 2022. The energy sector is reliant on fossil fuels, which constitute 76.4% of the total installed generating capacity.

Electricity consumption: 4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed capacity: 1.148 million kW (2023 est.)
Natural gas production: 11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Petroleum production: 32,000 barrels per day (2023 est.)

Environment

Papua New Guinea faces significant environmental challenges, including deforestation, water quality degradation, and pollution from large-scale mining. As a party to multiple international environmental agreements, PNG strives to address these issues while safeguarding its rich biodiversity.

Forest cover: 79% of total land area (2022 est.)
Rainforest loss: Driven by commercial demand for tropical timber
Air pollutants: 8.89 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Transportation

The country's transportation infrastructure includes a diverse array of civil aircraft and ports. PNG has 569 airports and a merchant marine fleet of 205 vessels.

Ports: 22 total, with key ports including Kavieng Harbor, Port Moresby, and Rabaul
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration prefix: P2

Communications

Papua New Guinea's communication landscape features a mix of fixed and mobile telephony, with a growing number of Internet users.

Internet users: 24% of the population (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions: 4.82 million (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: Includes 5 TV stations and multiple radio networks

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	10,046,233	(2024 est.)
Area	462,840 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$45.487 billion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	2.8%	(2024 est.)
Birth rate	28.1 births/1,000 population	(2024 est.)
Life expectancy	70.1 years	(2024 est.)
Total energy consumption per capita	8.781 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)
Electricity access	19%	(2022 est.)
Military expenditures	0.3% of GDP	(2024 est.)
Urban population	13.7%	(2023)