Country	Papua New Guinea
Capital	Port Moresby
Continent	Asia
Currency	Papua New Guinean Kina(PGK)
Languages	Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin & English

Locaion

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 Co ordinates

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Land Boundries

Total:820 km
Border countries:Indonesia 820 km

Geography - note

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

Population

6,064,515 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:105

Nationality

Noun:Papua New Guinean(s)
Adjective:Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups

Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions

Roman Catholic 27%, 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%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)

Languages

Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu are official languages; some 860 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)
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%

Country Name

Conventional long form:Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Conventional short form:Papua New Guinea
Local short form:Papuaniugin
Former:Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Government Type

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

Name:Port Moresby
Geographic coordinates:9 30 S, 147 10 E
Time difference:UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

18 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; 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

Independence

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

National Holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution

16 September 1975

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulias MATANE (since 29 June 2004)
Head of government:Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007)
Cabinet:National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general acting in accordance with a decision of the parliament

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats
Elections:last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held in June 2012
Election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU PATI 5, PDM 5, independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified
note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid

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)

Political Parties and Leaders

National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel KAPRIS]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes); Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE]; Community Coalition Against Corruption

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
Chancery:1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone:[1] (202) 745-3680
FAX:[1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Teddy B. TAYLOR
Embassy:Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
Mailing address:4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
Telephone:[675] 321-1455
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

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Government - Government - Papua New Guinea Prime Minister - Papua New Guinea
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Newspapers -  Post-Courier The National WN PNG Times
Tourism -         Ministry Of Tourism

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Anger in Papua New Guinea after Starlink ordered to shut down internet services - The GuardianAnger in Papua New Guinea after Starlink ordered to shut down internet services  The Guardian INDIAN NAVY WARSHIP VISITS PORT MORESBY TO JOIN PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S 50TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS - PIBINDIAN NAVY WARSHIP VISITS PORT MORESBY TO JOIN PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S 50TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS  PIB India, Papua New Guinea discuss ways to further enhance bilateral ties - The HinduIndia, Papua New Guinea discuss ways to further enhance bilateral ties  The Hindu Papua New Guinea - World BankPapua New Guinea  World Bank Papua New Guinea v Kuwait | Match Highlights | ICC CWC Challenge League A - ICCPapua New Guinea v Kuwait | Match Highlights | ICC CWC Challenge League A  ICC James Cameron Says a Trip to Papua New Guinea Inspired Part of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' - Condé Nast TravelerJames Cameron Says a Trip to Papua New Guinea Inspired Part of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'  Condé Nast Traveler The 31 October 2025 fatal landslide at Kukas, Papua New Guinea - eos.orgThe 31 October 2025 fatal landslide at Kukas, Papua New Guinea  eos.org Nepal and Papua New Guinea: Two Banking Systems, Two Regulatory Philosophies - NEPSE TradingNepal and Papua New Guinea: Two Banking Systems, Two Regulatory Philosophies  NEPSE Trading Women Forging New Futures in Papua New Guinea - International Finance Corporation (IFC)Women Forging New Futures in Papua New Guinea  International Finance Corporation (IFC) Vessel gets detained following grounding incident off Papua New Guinea - safety4seaVessel gets detained following grounding incident off Papua New Guinea  safety4sea Match summary: Ireland Women v Papua New Guinea Women - Australian Broadcasting CorporationMatch summary: Ireland Women v Papua New Guinea Women  Australian Broadcasting Corporation Papua New Guinea, Features, Government Structure, Latest News - Vajiram & RaviPapua New Guinea, Features, Government Structure, Latest News  Vajiram & Ravi In Papua New Guinea, Young Chinese Migrants Begin a Quiet Second Act - 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The Guardian‘Magical place’: tourists see another side of Papua New Guinea’s most troubled region  The Guardian IFC Invests in TWM Group to Spur Papua New Guinea’s Waste Management Industry, Create Jobs, and Drive Innovation and Sustainability - International Finance Corporation (IFC)IFC Invests in TWM Group to Spur Papua New Guinea’s Waste Management Industry, Create Jobs, and Drive Innovation and Sustainability  International Finance Corporation (IFC) PAPUA NEW GUINEA / GUTERRES FIELD VISIT - UN MediaPAPUA NEW GUINEA / GUTERRES FIELD VISIT  UN Media Working with Papua New Guineans to protect nature – the SoNG project - Agence Française de Développement (AFD)Working with Papua New Guineans to protect nature – the SoNG project  Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Papua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project - RNZPapua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project  RNZ PAPUA NEW GUINEA / EXTERIORS - UN MediaPAPUA NEW GUINEA / EXTERIORS  UN Media Guterres hails Papua New Guinea as an example of diversity, dialogue and climate action - 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The GuardianPapua New Guinea considers age restrictions on social media amid fears voices will be ‘silenced’  The Guardian ‘We dreamed of a better future’: remembering the first moments of Papua New Guinea in 1975 - The Guardian‘We dreamed of a better future’: remembering the first moments of Papua New Guinea in 1975  The Guardian Historic Investment in Education to Transform Early Learning for Over 375,000 Children in Papua New Guinea - World BankHistoric Investment in Education to Transform Early Learning for Over 375,000 Children in Papua New Guinea  World Bank Australia signs key defence deal with Papua New Guinea - BBCAustralia signs key defence deal with Papua New Guinea  BBC The women breaking the cycle of violence in Papua New Guinea - The GuardianThe women breaking the cycle of violence in Papua New Guinea  The Guardian Signing and Exchange of Notes for Official Security Assistance (OSA) FY2025 Project to Papua New Guinea Defence Force - mofa.go.jpSigning and Exchange of Notes for Official Security Assistance (OSA) FY2025 Project to Papua New Guinea Defence Force  mofa.go.jp UAE leaders congratulate Governor-General of Papua New Guinea on Independence Day - 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Noura Al Kaabi Receives Papua New Guinea’s Minister of International Trade and Investment - mofa.gov.aeH.E. 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Our World in DataPapua New Guinea has more living languages than any other country  Our World in Data A remarkable visit to Papua New Guinea - The Australian Jewish NewsA remarkable visit to Papua New Guinea  The Australian Jewish News PNG proposes setting up 'no-man's land' on border with Indonesia - Australian Broadcasting CorporationPNG proposes setting up 'no-man's land' on border with Indonesia  Australian Broadcasting Corporation Papua New Guinea: the power to choose - Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy CentrePapua New Guinea: the power to choose  Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre Japan-Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting - Prime Minister's Office of JapanJapan-Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting  Prime Minister's Office of Japan Papua New Guinea Advances Maternal Health with National Quality of Care Write-shop - World Health Organization (WHO)Papua New Guinea Advances Maternal Health with National Quality of Care Write-shop  World Health Organization (WHO) Roundtable - Celebrations and growing pains: 50 years of Papua New Guinean independence - Commonwealth Round TableRoundtable - Celebrations and growing pains: 50 years of Papua New Guinean independence  Commonwealth Round Table Building community engagement in Papua New Guinea, part 3: Churches as change agents - The London School of Economics and Political ScienceBuilding community engagement in Papua New Guinea, part 3: Churches as change agents  The London School of Economics and Political Science