Papua New Guinea

Introduction ::Papua New Guinea

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.

Geography ::Papua New Guinea

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

Area:

total: 462,840 sq km

country comparison to the world: 55

land: 452,860 sq km

water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 820 km

border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:

5,152 km

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

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 extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 0.65%

permanent crops: 1.51%

other: 97.84% (2011)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

801 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.39 cu km/yr (57%/43%/0%)

per capita: 61.3 cu m/yr (2005)

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 (elev. 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 (elev. 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

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

Geography - note:

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

People and Society ::Papua New Guinea

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 836 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); most 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%

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)

Population:

6,431,902 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.5% (male 1,160,586/female 1,120,258)

15-24 years: 19.5% (male 636,602/female 619,885)

25-54 years: 36% (male 1,198,799/female 1,117,510)

55-64 years: 5.2% (male 167,625/female 164,018)

65 years and over: 3.8% (male 129,852/female 116,767) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 69.3 %

youth dependency ratio: 64.3 %

elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 %

potential support ratio: 20.3 (2013)

Median age:

total: 22.2 years

male: 22.4 years

female: 21.9 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.89% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

Birth rate:

25.4 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Death rate:

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 149

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

Urbanization:

urban population: 13% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

PORT MORESBY (capital) 314,000 (2009)

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: 1.08 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female

total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

230 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 50

Infant mortality rate:

total: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 54

male: 44.53 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 36.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.66 years

country comparison to the world: 168

male: 64.44 years

female: 69 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.31 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

32.4% (2007)

Health expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 173

Physicians density:

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 87% of population

rural: 33% of population

total: 40% of population

unimproved:

urban: 13% of population

rural: 67% of population

total: 60% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 71% of population

rural: 41% of population

total: 45% of population

unimproved:

urban: 29% of population

rural: 59% of population

total: 55% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.9% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

34,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,300 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

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 (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

16.2% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 115

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

18.1% (2005)

country comparison to the world: 40

Education expenditures:

NA

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 62.4%

male: 65.4%

female: 59.4% (2011 est.)

People - note:

the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea 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

Government ::Papua New Guinea

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

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy and 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)

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

Independence:

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

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:

16 September 1975

Legal system:

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

International law organization participation:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Michael OGIO (since 25 February 2011)

head of government: Prime Minister Peter Paire O'NEILL (since 2 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Leo DION (since 9 August 2012)

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; Peter Paire O'NEILL elected prime minister by parliament on 3 August 2012 by a vote of 94 to 12

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (111 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 23 June 2012 to 27 July 2012 (next to be held in June 2017)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's National Congress Party 27, Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party 12, PNG Party 8, National Alliance Party 7, United Resources Party 7, People's Party 6, People's Progess Party 6, other parties 22, independents 16

note: 14 other parties won 3 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 28 other judges); National Courts (10 courts located in the province capitals, with a total of 16 resident judges )

judge selection and term of office: 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; citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA

subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance Party or NA [Patrick PRUAITCHI]

Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Beldan NEMAH]

People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL]

People's Party or PP

People's Progress Party or PPP

Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POYLE]

United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]

note: as of 13 March 2012, 41 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 PNG

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), 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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elias Rahuromo WOHENGU

chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] [phone]

FAX: [1] [phone]

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Walter E. NORTH

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; 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

National symbol(s):

bird of paradise

National anthem:

name: ""O Arise All You Sons""

lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY

note: adopted 1975

Economy ::Papua New Guinea

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. 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. A consortium led by a major American oil company is constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility that could begin exporting in 2014. As the largest investment project in the country's history, it has the potential to double GDP in the near-term and triple Papua New Guinea's export revenue. An American-owned firm also opened PNG's first oil refinery in 2004 and is building a second LNG production facility. The government faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and accountability for revenues flowing from this and other large LNG projects. In 2011 and 2012, the National Parliament passed legislation that created an offshore Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to manage government surpluses from mineral, oil, and natural gas projects. In recent years, the government has opened up markets in telecommunications and air transport, making both more affordable to the people. 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. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.41 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

$17.79 billion (2011 est.)

$16.02 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$15.79 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.1% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

11.1% (2011 est.)

7.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,800 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 179

$2,700 (2011 est.)

$2,500 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

Gross national saving:

7.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

18.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

10.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 46.4%

government consumption: 17%

investment in fixed capital: 20.7%

investment in inventories: 0.9%

exports of goods and services: 69.8%

imports of goods and services: -54.8%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 28%

industry: 38.6%

services: 33.4% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

13% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

Labor force:

3.986 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 90

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 85%

industry: NA%

services: NA% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.9% (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

1.8% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

37% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.9 (1996)

country comparison to the world: 18

Budget:

revenues: $4.532 billion

expenditures: $4.769 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

28.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-1.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

Public debt:

14.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 138

12.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

8.4% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

14% (31 December 2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

6.92% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.82% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

10.81% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$5.301 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 97

$4.488 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$8.624 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

$7.134 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.342 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 123

$3.093 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$8.999 billion (31 December 2011)

country comparison to the world: 73

$9.742 billion (31 December 2010)

$12.21 billion (31 December 2009)

Current account balance:

-$4.381 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

-$48.5 million (2011 est.)

Exports:

$5.604 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

$6.791 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

Australia 29%, Japan 9.6%, China 4.8% (2012)

Imports:

$4.412 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

$4.24 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

Australia 36.3%, Singapore 13.8%, Malaysia 8.4%, China 7.9%, Japan 5.8%, US 4.8% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.001 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

$4.323 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$13.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

$12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

kina (PGK) per US dollar -

2.0837 (2012 est.)

2.371 (2011 est.)

2.7193 (2010 est.)

2.7551 (2009)

2.6956 (2008)

Energy ::Papua New Guinea

Electricity - production:

3.331 billion kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity - consumption:

3.098 billion kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

700,000 kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

61.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

30.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

Crude oil - production:

30,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - imports:

15,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

Crude oil - proved reserves:

170 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Refined petroleum products - production:

16,080 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

36,320 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - exports:

3,536 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

Refined petroleum products - imports:

7,201 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - production:

110 million cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas - consumption:

110 million cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - proved reserves:

155.3 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

5.306 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Communications ::Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

130,000 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 141

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.4 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 133

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 40 per 100 persons

international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2009)

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 hosts:

5,006 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 145

Internet users:

125,000 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 152

Transportation ::Papua New Guinea

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 540

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 53

under 914 m:

476 (2013)

Heliports:

2 (2013)

Pipelines:

oil 264 km (2013)

Roadways:

total: 9,349 km

country comparison to the world: 135

paved: 3,000 km

unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)

Waterways:

11,000 km (2011)

country comparison to the world: 12

Merchant marine:

total: 31

country comparison to the world: 84

by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 22, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak

Military ::Papua New Guinea

Military branches:

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

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,568,210

females age 16-49: 1,478,965 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,130,951

females age 16-49: 1,137,753 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 67,781

female: 65,820 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 163

Transnational Issues ::Papua New Guinea

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,368 (Indonesia) (2012)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Papua New Guinea is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; families may sell girls into forced marriages to settle debts, leaving them vulnerable to forced domestic service; local and Chinese men are forced to labor in logging and mining camps; migrant women from 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 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; despite acknowledging trafficking as a problem, the government has not enacted legislation to criminalize all forms of trafficking, investigated any suspected trafficking offenses, prosecuted or convicted any trafficking offenders under existing laws, addressed allegations of officials being complicit in human trafficking crimes, or identified or assisted any trafficking victims; Papua New Guinea is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol

Illicit drugs:

major consumer of cannabis"