THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of Indonesia. PNG was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. Its harsh geography of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s ethnic and linguistic diversity. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate -- and eventually a colony -- over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored.The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. The New Guinea campaign of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth. Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement on the island province of Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders reached a cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans voted in favor of independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville and PNG governments are in the process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the PNG parliament.

Location: 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
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 824 km
border countries: Indonesia 824 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation: highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 667 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: 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.)
forest: 75.2% (2023 est.)
other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
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
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Natural hazards: active volcanism; frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951, killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; highlands that trend from east to west break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps lies along the southwest coast note 2: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

Population: total: 10,273,996 (2025 est.)
male: 5,206,211
female: 5,067,785
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 living indigenous languages are spoken (about 12% of the world's 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.)
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 69.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 62.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 14.2 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 21.9 years (2025 est.)
male: 21.6 years
female: 21.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 27.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Urbanization: urban population: 13.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 410,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2023)
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
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2016/18)
Maternal mortality ratio: 189 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.3 years
female: 71.9 years
Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.82 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 44.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 50.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 55.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 49.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 18.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 81.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 38.9% (2025 est.)
male: 53.4% (2025 est.)
female: 23.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.9% (2018 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8% (2018)
women married by age 18: 27.3% (2018)
men married by age 18: 3.7% (2018)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 3.5% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy: total population: 70.1% (2017 est.)
male: 78.4% (2017 est.)
female: 61.6% (2017 est.)
People - note: the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness

Environmental issues: rainforest loss as a result of commercial demand for tropical timber; soil erosion, water-quality degradation, and loss of habitat from logging; effects of large-scale mining projects (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; land degradation from poor farming practices; poor fishing practices; coastal pollution due to runoff and oil spills
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
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Land use: 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.)
forest: 75.2% (2023 est.)
other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 13.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 5.798 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.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.33 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.3% (2022 est.)
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.)
Total renewable water resources: 801 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
etymology: the name derives from the Malay word pua-pua, describing the tightly curled hair of the Papuan people; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island in 1545 because he thought the locals resembled the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)
etymology: named in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877)
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; 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
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution: history: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975
amendment process: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, pending a National Parliament vote
election results: James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Parliament
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 118 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 2.7%
expected date of next election: July 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Karibone AMET (since 5 September 2025)
chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
email address and website: info@pngembassy.orghttp://www.pngembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 22 February 2024); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
embassy: Harbour City Road, Konedobu, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Pl, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 308-9100
email address and website: ConsularPortMoresby@state.govhttps://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
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from upper-left corner; the upper triangle is red and has a soaring yellow bird of paradise in the center; the lower triangle is black with five five-pointed white stars of the Southern Cross constellationmeaning: red, black, and yellow are the country's traditional colors; the bird of paradise is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross symbolizes the country's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
National symbol(s): bird of paradise
National color(s): red, black
National coat of arms: Papua New Guinea's coat of arms was adopted on July 1, 1971, and features the country's national symbol, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise; the bird stands for the nation's freedom and rich natural environment; the traditional spear under the bird represents the country's ethnic groups and the protection of its heritage, and the Kundu drum, which is used in ceremonies, represents local artistic traditions and communication
National anthem(s): title: "O Arise, All You Sons"
lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
history: adopted 1975
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site

Economic overview: lower-middle-income Pacific island economy; primarily informal agrarian sector; natural-resource-rich and key exporter of liquified natural gas; collapse in betel nut prices, tighter monetary policy, and improved foreign-exchange availability contributing to declining inflation; challenges include lack of progress in infrastructure, agricultural reform, and corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $45.487 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $43.697 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.093 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $32.538 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 17.2% (2024 est.)
industry: 37.2% (2024 est.)
services: 41.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 43.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 19.7% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 10% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 49.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, coconuts, bananas, fruits, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, root vegetables, vegetables, sugarcane (2023)
Industries: oil and gas; mining (gold, copper, and nickel); palm oil processing; plywood and wood chip production; copra crushing; construction; tourism; fishing; livestock (pork, poultry, cattle) and dairy farming; spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg)
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.66 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 3.8% (2024 est.)
male: 4.6% (2024 est.)
female: 3% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.518 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $6.856 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2023: 52.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $4.183 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $4.567 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $3.284 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $12.93 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $14.862 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $11.032 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 28%, Japan 25%, Australia 17%, Taiwan 8%, India 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, gold, copper ore, palm oil, nickel (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $7.192 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $8.568 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $6.43 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Australia 27%, China 24%, Singapore 15%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, trucks, rice, plastic products, excavation machinery (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.901 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.983 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $3.24 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $7.011 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: kina (PGK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2023: 3.59 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3.519 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3.509 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 3.46 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019: 3.388 (2019 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 19% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 65.1%
electrification - rural areas: 14.2%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.148 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 328.234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 76.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 159.656 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas: production: 11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 677.736 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 10.892 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.781 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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.)
Broadcast media: 5 TV stations: 1 commercial (TV Wan), 2 state-run (National Broadcasting Corporation and EMTV); 1 digital free-to-view network, and 1 satellite network (Click TV or PNGTV); the state-run NBC operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2023)
Internet country code: .pg
Internet users: percent of population: 24% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 22,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P2
Airports: 569 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 205 (2023)
by type: container ship 6, general cargo 89, oil tanker 4, other 106
Ports: total ports: 22 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 6
very small: 16
ports with oil terminals: 8
key ports: Kavieng Harbor, Kieta, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Vanimo, Wewak Harbor

Military and security forces: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Land, Air, Maritime elementsMinistry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 0.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 4,000 active PNGDF (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PNGDF is lightly armed; the Land Force has no heavy weapons while the Air and the Maritime forces have a handful of light aircraft and small patrol boats provided by Australia and New Zealand (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 (30 for officers) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) is tasked with defense of the country and its territories against external attack, as well as internal security and socio-economic development duties; following some inter-tribal violence in Wapenamanda in 2024, the PNGDF was given arrest powerssince 2023, Papua New Guinea has signed bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Australia, Indonesia, the UK, and the US; the 2023 defense cooperation agreement with the US allowed the US military to develop and operate out of bases in PNG with the PNG Government’s approval; PNG has also military relations with France and New Zealand and has discussed a security cooperation agreement with China the PNGDF was established in 1973, and its primary combat unit, the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR), is descended from Australian Army infantry battalions comprised of native soldiers and led by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers formed during World War II to help fight the Japanese; the RPIR was disbanded after the war, but reestablished in 1951 as part of the Australian Army where it continued to serve until PNG gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 10,983 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 107,985 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons: tier rating: Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Papua New Guinea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/papua-new-guinea/

Papua New Guinea