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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 00 S,
147 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total:
462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km |
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Coastline:
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5,152 km
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Maritime claims:
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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 |
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Climate:
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tropical;
northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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mostly
mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold,
copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0.46%
permanent crops: 1.44%
other: 98.1% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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active
volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire";
the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis |
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Environment - current issues:
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rain
forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing
commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from
mining projects; severe drought |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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shares
island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's
largest swamps along southwest coast |
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Population:
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5,545,268
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 38.1% (male 1,072,910/female 1,037,635)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,662,166/female
1,559,685)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 99,777/female
113,095) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
21.09 years
male: 21.25 years
female: 20.93 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.26%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.95
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.37
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
51.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 64.93 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 67.21 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.96
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.6%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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16,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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600 (2003
est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
are high risks in some locations (2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%,
Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs
34% |
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Languages:
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Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English
spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Independent State of Papua
New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Port
Moresby |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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16
September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN
trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 16 September (1975) |
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Constitution:
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16
September 1975 |
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Legal system:
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based on
English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by governor general Sir Paulius
MATANE (since 29 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael
SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); deputy prime minister
(vacant)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by
the governor general on the recommendation of the prime
minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
governor general appointed by the National Executive
Council; following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or the leader of the majority
coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general |
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Legislative branch:
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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 15-29 June 2002 and April
and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the
Southern Highlands was not completed during the June
2002 election period); next to be held not later than
June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party -
National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu
6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party -
National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU 6,
PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with
political parties is fluid (2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Christian
Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN, party leader];
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party
leader]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE,
party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National
Party [Melchior PEP, party leader]; Papua and Niugini
Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA, party leader];
Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party
leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party
leader]; Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic
Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader];
People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party
leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party
leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter
O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or
PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party
[Luther WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party
[Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA,
party leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim
NEVILLE, party leader] (2004) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, APEC,
ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US
Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423 |
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Flag description:
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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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Economy - overview:
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Papua New
Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the
high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture
provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the
population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and
gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The economy
has improved over the past two years, following a
prolonged period of instability. Former Prime Minister
Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state
institutions, to stabilize the kina, restore stability
to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises
where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on
Bougainville. Australia annually supplies $240 million
in aid, which accounts for 20% of the national budget.
Challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including
gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts
to privatize government assets, maintaining the support
of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with
Australia, the former colonial ruler. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$11.99
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.9%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 34.5%
industry: 34.7%
services: 30.8% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.32
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (2002
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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50.9
(1996) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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13.6% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.174 billion
expenditures: $1.232 billion, including capital
expenditures of $344 million (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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59.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee,
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet
potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork |
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Industries:
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copra
crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood
chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper;
crude oil production; construction, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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1.679
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.561
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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46,200
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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15,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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170
million bbl (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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110
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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110
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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385.5
billion cu m (2004) |
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Current account balance:
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$29.15
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$2.437
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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oil,
gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa,
crayfish, prawns |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia
28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$1.353
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
fuels, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia
46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, New Zealand 4.2%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$635.8
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.463
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$400
million (1999 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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kina
(PGK) |
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Currency code:
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PGK |
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Exchange rates:
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kina per
US dollar - 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002),
3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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62,000
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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15,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: services are adequate;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal
radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio
communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: country code - 675; submarine
cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio
communication service |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 8, FM
19, shortwave 28 (1998) |
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Radios:
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410,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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3 (all in
the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka,
Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004) |
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Televisions:
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59,841
(1999) |
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Internet country code:
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.pg |
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Internet hosts:
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389
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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3 (2000)
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Internet users:
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75,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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10,940 km
(2003) |
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Pipelines:
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oil 264
km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Kimbe,
Lae, Rabaul |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, chemical
tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6)
(2005) |
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Airports:
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571 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
550
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Papua New
Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age (est.); no conscription (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$16.9
million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.4%
(FY02) |
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Disputes - international:
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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 |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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