Papua New Guinea

Broadcast media

2 TV stations, 1 commercial station operating since the late 1980s, and 1 state-run station launched in 2008; satellite and cable TV services are available; state-run National Broadcasting Corporation 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 (2009)

Internet country code

.pg

Internet users

total: 652,071 | percent of population: 9.6% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Telephone system

general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services | domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available although combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to roughly 55 per 100 persons | international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 154,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 3.782 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; poultry, pork; shellfish

Budget

revenues: $3.347 billion | expenditures: $4.332 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Central bank discount rate

14% (31 December 2010) | 6.92% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 13

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.38% (31 December 2016 est.) | 8.73% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Current account balance

$4.119 billion (2016 est.) | $5.326 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Debt - external

$18.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $20.03 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.9 (1996) | country comparison to the world: 13

Economy - overview

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities. | Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. Following construction of a $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, began exporting liquefied natural gas to Asian markets in May 2014. The project was delivered on time and only slightly above budget. The success of the project has encouraged other companies to look at similar LNG projects. French supermajor Total is expected to begin construction on the Papua LNG project by 2020. Due to lower global commodity prices, resource revenues of all types have fallen dramatically. PNG’s government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward. | Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues.

Exchange rates

kina (PGK) per US dollar - | 3.133 (2016 est.) | 3.133 (2015 est.) | 2.7684 (2014 est.) | 2.4614 (2013 est.) | 2.08 (2012 est.)

Exports

$9.224 billion (2016 est.) | $9.58 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Singapore 23.7%, Australia 22.9%, Japan 13.2%, China 11.9% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.48 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.4 billion (2016 est.) | $28.36 billion (2015 est.) | $25.69 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 134

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 44.4% | government consumption: 20.2% | investment in fixed capital: 10.4% | investment in inventories: -0.4% | exports of goods and services: 48.1% | imports of goods and services: -22.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 21.5% | industry: 42.8% | services: 35.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,700 (2016 est.) | $3,700 (2015 est.) | $3,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 184

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2016 est.) | 9.2% (2015 est.) | 12.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Gross national saving

44.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 39.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | 25.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.83 billion (2016 est.) | $2.267 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Australia 36%, China 14.9%, Singapore 8.5%, Malaysia 7.5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Industries

copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining (gold, silver, copper); crude oil and petroleum products; construction, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2016 est.) | 6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Labor force

3.598 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 85% | industry: NA% | services: NA% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$10.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $8.999 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $9.742 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Population below poverty line

37% (2002 est.)

Public debt

39% of GDP (2016 est.) | 34.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.656 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.738 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Stock of broad money

$7.061 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.723 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$7.223 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.118 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Stock of narrow money

$5.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.936 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Taxes and other revenues

16.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2016 est.) | 2.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.7 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Crude oil - exports

17,400 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Crude oil - imports

14,880 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Crude oil - production

55,990 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - proved reserves

159.4 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - consumption

3.367 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity - from fossil fuels

62.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - from other renewable sources

6.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - installed generating capacity

882,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - production

3.62 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity access

population without electricity: 5,568,879 | electrification - total population: 18% | electrification - urban areas: 72% | electrification - rural areas: 10% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

680 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - exports

9.7 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production

9.8 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas - proved reserves

141.5 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 49

Refined petroleum products - consumption

42,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Refined petroleum products - exports

8,062 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Refined petroleum products - imports

21,180 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Refined petroleum products - production

28,340 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Area

total: 462,840 sq km | land: 452,860 sq km | water: 9,980 sq km | country comparison to the world: 56

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

mean elevation: 667 m | 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; severe drought

Environment - international agreements

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

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Geography - note

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 824 km | border countries (1): Indonesia 824 km

Land use

agricultural land: 2.6% | arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 1.5%; permanent pasture 0.4% | forest: 63.1% | other: 34.3% (2011 est.)

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to 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

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

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

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)

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

adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975; amended many times, last in 2013; note - in September 2015, the Supreme Court nullified the 2013 constitutional amendment that increased the grace period on motions of no confidence (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea | conventional short form: Papua New Guinea | local short form: Papuaniugini | former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea | abbreviation: PNG | etymology: the word "papua" derives from the Malay "papuah" describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesians; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island of New Guinea in 1545 after noting the resemblance of the locals to the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine EBERT-GRAY (since 23 February 2016); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu | embassy: P.O. Box 1492, Port Moresby | mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Place, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 | telephone: [675] 321-1455 | FAX: [675] 321-3423

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Rupa Abraham MALINA (since 10 March 2014) | chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 | FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017) | head of government: Prime Minister Peter Paire O'NEILL (since 2 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Charles ABEL (since 4 August 2017) | cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote | election results: Peter Paire O'NEILL (PNC) reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 60 to 46

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; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific

Government type

parliamentary democracy (National Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 28 judges); National Courts (13 courts located in the province capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon 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 to include 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 until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA | subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Parliament (111 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies - 91 local and 20 provincial - by majority preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the constitution allows up to 126 seats | elections: last held from 24 June 2017 to 8 July 2017 (next to be held in June 2022) | election results: results pending as of late October 2017; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA | note: 12 other parties won 2 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid

National anthem

name: "O Arise All You Sons" | lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY | note: adopted 1975

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

National symbol(s)

bird of paradise; national colors: red, black

Political parties and leaders

National Alliance Party or NAP [Patrick PRUAITCH] | Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Sam BASIL] | Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Belden NAMAH] | People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL] | People's Party or PP [Peter IPATAS] | People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN] | Social Democratic Party or SDP [Powes PARKOP] | Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POLYE] | United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] | note: as of 8 July 2017, 45 political parties were registered

Political pressure groups and leaders

Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE] | Community Coalition Against Corruption | National Council of Women | Transparency International Papau New Guinea or TIPNG (chapter of Transparency International)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy. Under the terms of a peace accord, 2015 is the year that a five-year window opens for a referendum on the question of independence.

Military branches

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF, includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.66% of GDP (2014) | 0.68% of GDP (2013) | 0.72% of GDP (2012) | 0.5% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 127

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; graduation from grade 12 required (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.43% (male 1,175,934/female 1,133,882) | 15-24 years: 19.92% (male 697,463/female 678,680) | 25-54 years: 36.89% (male 1,309,843/female 1,238,972) | 55-64 years: 5.49% (male 193,273/female 185,931) | 65 years and over: 4.28% (male 148,802/female 146,921) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

23.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

27.9% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 19

Death rate

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 67.4 | youth dependency ratio: 61.3 | elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 | potential support ratio: 16.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 88% of population | rural: 32.8% of population | total: 40% of population | urban: 12% of population | rural: 67.2% of population | total: 60% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,100 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

46,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Health expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 159

Infant mortality rate

total: 36.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 39.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 32.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Languages

Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); many languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers | note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.3 years | male: 65.1 years | female: 69.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 64.2% | male: 65.6% | female: 62.8% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

PORT MORESBY (capital) 345,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

215 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Median age

total: 23.1 years | male: 23.2 years | female: 23.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.3% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 91

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

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

6,909,701 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

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

Population growth rate

1.71% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Religions

Roman Catholic 27%, Protestant 69.4% (Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%), Baha'i 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 56.4% of population | rural: 13.3% of population | total: 18.9% of population | urban: 43.6% of population | rural: 86.7% of population | total: 81.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female | total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.03 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization

urban population: 13.1% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,368 (Indonesia) (2016) | IDPs: 8,400 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2016)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Papua New Guinea is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; foreign and Papua New Guinean women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, domestic servitude, forced begging, and street vending; parents may sell girls into forced marriages to settle debts or as peace offerings or trade them to another tribe to forge a political alliance, leaving them vulnerable to forced domestic service, or, in urban areas, they may prostitute their children for income or to pay school fees; Chinese, Malaysian, and local men are forced to labor in logging and mining camps through debt bondage schemes; migrant women from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, and the Philippines are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude at logging and mining camps, fisheries, and entertainment sites | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the Criminal Code Amendment of 2013, which prohibits all forms of trafficking was brought into force in 2014; the government also formed an anti-trafficking committee, which drafted a national action plan; despite corruption problems, trafficking-related crimes were prosecuted in village courts rather than criminal courts, resulting in restitution to the victim but no prison time for offenders; the government did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any officials or law enforcement personnel complicit in trafficking offenses; the government made no efforts to proactively identify trafficking victims, has no formal victim identification and referral mechanism, and does not provide care facilities to victims or funding to shelters run by NGOs or international organizations (2015)

Airports

561 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 12

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 | 914 to 1,523 m: 5 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 540 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 | 914 to 1,523 m: 53 | under 914 m: 476 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

P2 (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 31 | by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 22, petroleum tanker 2 | foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 84

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 47 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,062,584 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 34,827,034 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

oil 264 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak | LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Moresby

Roadways

total: 9,349 km | paved: 3,000 km | unpaved: 6,349 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 139

Waterways

11,000 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 11