Papua New Guinea

Radio broadcast stations

AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

298,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

63,212 (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

10,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Currency

1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Debt - external

$3.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)

Economy - overview

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. A second phase structural adjustment loan will be negotiated in 1997. The structural adjustment program includes liberalization of trade and investment policies, sustainable development of the forestry sector, improvement of government planning capacity and better delivery of public services. New gold and oil projects are under development and planned to begin production in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

Electricity - capacity

252,000 kW (1992)

Electricity - consumption per capita

382 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

1.71 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7451 (December 1996), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Exports

total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster partners : Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture : 27% industry: 42% services: 31%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals partners : Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Inflation rate - consumer price index

6% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.941 million by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water : 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

5,152 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to : Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 820 km border countries : Indonesia 820 km

Land use

arable land : 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other : 6% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Administrative divisions

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

16 September 1975

Country name

conventional long form : Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Data code

PP

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991) head of government : Acting Prime Minister John GIHENO (since 27 March 1997); Acting Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 27 March 1997); note - John GIHENO and Andrew BAING assumed the respective posts of acting prime minister and acting deputy prime minister after Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (in office since 30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (in office since 7 September 1994) were required to step down during an inquiry into the government's hiring of mercenaries to assist the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces against Bougainville rebels; the inquiry is scheduled to conclude on 30 May 1997 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

FAX

[1] (202) 745-3679

FAX

[675] 321-3423

Flag description

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

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, APEC, AsDB, 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, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

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

based on English common law

Legislative branch

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 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held 14-28 June 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

National capital

Port Moresby

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Roy YAKI; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; People's United Party (PUP), David UNASI; National Party (NP), Mathias IJAPE; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Alliance (NA), Sir Michael SOMARE; Movement For Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Black Action Party (BAP), John WAIKO; League for National Advancement (LNA), Thomas PELIKA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$63 million (1997); note - includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,174,591 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 653,179 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years : 40% (male 921,227; female 874,290) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,338,483; female 1,229,180) 65 years and over: 3% (male 61,082; female 71,959) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

32.65 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

9.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 57.65 years male: 56.78 years female: 58.56 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

4,496,221 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

2.28% (1997 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none PARACEL ISLANDS

Airports

451 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total : 387 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 370 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m : 12 914 to 1,523 m: 52 (1996 est.)

Heliports

2 (1996 est.)

Highways

total : 19,400 km paved: 660 km unpaved: 18,740 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,614 GRT/29,643 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Railways

0 km

Waterways

10,940 km