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Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1975 Population: 7,321,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 1.9% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 157 Official language: English Time: GMT plus 10 hrs Currency: Kina (K) Geography Area: 462,840 sq km Coastline: 5,150 km Capital: Port Moresby The Independent State of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific shares a land-border with Indonesia; its other near neighbours are commercial demand for tropical timber; Arawa (on Bougainville, 38,600), Mount Australia to the south and Solomon Islands to pollution from mining projects; and severe Hagen (Western Highlands, 29,176), Madang the east. drought. (Madang, 29,100), Wewak (East Sepik, Papua New Guinea includes the eastern half Vegetation: Rich and very varied: five kinds 27,031), Goroka (Eastern Highlands, 16,700), of the world’s second biggest island, New of lowland, and 13 kinds of mountain Kimbe (on New Britain, 16,004), Daru (Fly Guinea, bordering the Indonesian province of rainforest, five kinds of palm and swamp River, 14,373), Vanimo (Sandaun, 13,357), Irian Jaya to the west. The rest of the country forests, three differing mangrove forests, and Alotau (Milne Bay, 12,628), Kundiawa is made up of about 600 small islands, the the world’s greatest variety of orchid species. (Simbu, 11,455), Popondetta (Oro, 10,200), chief of which are the Bismarck Archipelago, Forest covers 63 per cent of the land area, Kavieng (on New Ireland, 9,900), Bulolo the Trobriands, the Louisiade Archipelago, the having declined at 0.5 per cent p.a. (Morobe, 9,850), Mendi (Southern Highlands, D’Entrecasteaux Islands, and some of the 1990–2010. Arable land comprises one per 8,500), Kokopo (on New Britain, 6,300), Wau islands in the Solomons group, including cent and permanent cropland less than two (Morobe, 4,950) and Rabaul (on New Britain, Bougainville. per cent of the total land area. 3,945). Wildlife: There are no large mammals but a The country comprises 22 provinces including Transport: Construction of roads is rich variety of marsupials, reptiles and some the National Capital District (greater Port hampered by the rugged mountainous Moresby) and the Autonomous Region of 700 species of birds, including 38 species of environment and the total national road Bougainville. the spectacular bird of paradise and related network extends to 19,600 km, 3.5 per bower-birds. Papua New Guinea also has Topography: The centre of the main island is many thousands of unusual species of insect cent paved. Port Moresby is perhaps the a rugged mountainous ridge, with several including the world’s largest species of only capital city that is not linked by road wide valleys, and foothills north and south. butterfly, the Queen Alexandra birdwing, and with the rest of the country. There is no The rivers Sepik and Ramu drain the foothills brilliant green scarab beetles which are used railway. to the north, and the rivers Fly, Kikori and for jewellery. Indigenous marsupials include Purari those in the south. Though fast- Principal ports are Alotau (on the southern tree kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, cuscus flowing, many rivers are navigable. There are tip of New Guinea), Port Moresby (on the and spiny anteaters. Dugongs live in the active volcanoes along the north coast, and south coast), and Lae, Madang and Wewak waters near the coast. The creation of some volcanoes and warm pools in the (on the north coast), Rabaul (in New Britain), national parks was a slow process, the south-east islands. Kieta (Bougainville) and Momote (Manus government being reluctant to interfere with Island). As there are relatively few roads, river Climate: Tropical monsoon. Hot and humid traditional methods of land tenure, but there transport is important, for both freight and all year, though somewhat cooler in the are now four national parks, and protection highlands. Rainfall occurs chiefly measures have been introduced, banning the passengers, and particularly on the River December–March. High mountains receive export of birds of paradise. Some 39 Sepik. occasional frost, even snow. mammal species and 32 bird species are The international airport is Port Moresby at thought to be endangered (2014). Environment: The most significant Jackson Field, 11 km from the city. Domestic environmental issues are rainforest Main towns: Port Moresby (capital, pop. air services run to all centres of population deforestation as a result of growing 364,125 in 2011), Lae (Morobe, 155,000), and industry. The CommoNwealTh Yearbook 2015 Papua New Guinea Society In such a large and sparsely populated crisis since independence due to a prolonged country radio is the most important drought, the continuing Bougainville crisis, KEY FACTS 2013 information source for most people. The the Asian economic downturn and the falling Population per sq km: 16 National Broadcasting Corporation provides value of the kina. With the support of the Life expectancy: 62 years national and provincial radio stations; and World Bank and IMF, the government there are several private radio stations. embarked on economic reforms including a Population: 7,321,000 (2013); 13 per cent programme of privatisation. of people live in urban areas; growth 2.5 per The private TV service, EMTV, and public cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 29 per 1,000 National Television Service are only received in The economy recovered strongly during 1999 people (42 in 1970); life expectancy 62 years and around Port Moresby and the provincial but then stalled, with good growth returning capitals. (43 in 1970). from 2003, as new mining and hydrocarbon projects came on stream, recording 4.9 per Some ten per cent of households have TV The people are of mixed (mostly cent p.a. over 2005–09. There was strong sets (2006). There are 64 personal computers Melanesian) race, with small communities of growth in 2007–08, moderating slightly to per 1,000 people (2005). Polynesians on outlying atolls. There is a 5.5 per cent in 2009, in response to the declining non-indigenous population Communications: Country code 675; global downturn and collapse of world (several thousand Australians and a small internet domain ‘.pg’. Mobile coverage is demand, before strengthening again to eight Chinese population). limited. Internet access is generally slow. to nine per cent p.a. in 2010–12, slowing in Language: The official language is English, For every 1,000 people there are 19 landlines, 2013–14 before surging to an estimated 20 but Tok Pisin (an English-based Creole) is 410 mobile phone subscriptions and 65 per cent in 2015, driven by exports of natural more widely used, and Hiri Motu is spoken internet users (2013). gas. around Port Moresby; there are over 800 Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Queen’s Mining and energy indigenous languages. Official Birthday (Monday in June), The country is richly endowed with mineral Remembrance Day (23 July), Independence Religion: Christians 90 per cent and hydrocarbon resources. Since commercial and Constitution Day (16 September), (predominantly Protestants), though Christian gold-mining began in 1989, mining and oil Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Regional beliefs often coexist with traditional beliefs. and gas production have made a significant festivals are held at various times during the contribution to GDP. Oil production started in Health: Public spending on health was four year. per cent of GDP in 2012. State- and church- 1992. There are two oil refineries: one in the run hospitals, dispensaries and clinics, with Religious festivals whose dates vary from year Gulf of Papua; and one at Port Moresby. A charges low and related to ability to pay. to year include Good Friday and Easter liquefied natural gas project linking fields in Some 40 per cent of the population uses an Monday. the Southern Highlands and Western improved drinking water source and 19 per Province with an LNG plant at Port Moresby cent have access to adequate sanitation Economy began production and exports in 2014. Reserves of natural gas were estimated in facilities (2012). Infant mortality was 47 per KEY FACTS 2013 1,000 live births in 2013 (143 in 1960). In January 2014 to be 200 billion cubic metres. GNI: US$14.6bn 2013, 0.7 per cent of people aged 15–49 were HIV positive. GNI p.c.: US$2,010 Real growth in GDP Education: There are 12 years of school GDP growth: 7.2% p.a. 2009–13 % % 10 education comprising six years of primary and Inflation: 5.4% p.a. 2009–13 six of secondary, with cycles of four and two Though the country is rich in mineral, 8 years. The school year starts in January. agricultural, forestry and fisheries resources, There are four public universities: the development is still in the early stages, and 6 g University of Papua New Guinea (Port has been hampered by volatile prices for 4 Moresby); Papua New Guinea University of agricultural and mineral exports. In addition, Technology (Lae); University of Goroka the main population centres are separated by (Goroka), which trains teachers; and ocean or inhospitable terrain. GDP grew by 2 University of Natural Resources and 1.9 per cent p.a. 1980–90 and 3.8 per cent 0 Environment (Kerevat, East New Britain), p.a. 1990–2000. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 which trains people for agriculture and Government policy has been to aim for natural resource management. The longest- steady, sustainable growth with an even Inflation established private universities include one sharing of the benefits throughout the % 8 founded by the Roman Catholic Church, country. To this end, it took minority Divine Word University at Madang; and one shareholdings in most major industrial and 7 by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pacific mining developments (up to a maximum of 6 Adventist University at Boroko, Port Moresby.
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