Overview
Papua New Guinea comprises both the mainland and some 600 offshore islands and has a total land area of 470,000 square kilometers. PNG’s population currently stands at 5.1 million people with around 15 percent of the population living in the 10 major urban areas.
PNG has a moderate tropical climate with high levels of seasonal rainfall.
The capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby with a population of 255,000 people. The second largest city is the industrial city of Lae in the Morobe Province.
Over 800 different languages are spoken by the people of Papua New Guinea. English is the official language, while Tok Pisin and Motu languages are national languages.
Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975. The country has a well-entrenched democratic system of government. The National Government comprises three independent branches: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Executive power is vested in the National Executive Council or Cabinet which comprises the Prime Minister and Ministers.
There are 19 provinces, each governed by a Provincial Government which have similar constitutional arrangements to the National Government and have concurrent power with the latter in areas such as agriculture, business development, town planning, forestry and natural resources. National laws, however, take precedence over provincial laws.
Papua New Guinea is also an active member of the Commonwealth.
| Independence | 16 September 1975 |
| Government | Constitutional, Parliamentary Democracy |
| Members in Parliament | 109 (20 Provincial; 89 District |
| Population | 6.25 million |
| Place of Residence | 14.8% urban; 85.2% rural |
| Median Age | 18 years |
| Life Expectancy | 56 years |
| Estimated HIV Prevalence | 2% |
| Land Area | 462,840 sq km: 0.5% beaches and ridges; 1.5% mangroves; 11% swamps; 15% other lowlands; 43% foothills, mountains to 1000m above sea level; 25% mountains 1000 to 3000m above sea level; and 4% above 3000m |
| Highest Point | Mt Wilhelm - 4509m above sea level |
| Forests | 360,000 sq km |
| Rivers | 10,940 km |
| Longest river | Fly - 1200 km |
| Biggest lake | Lake Murray - 647 sq km |
| Coastline (mainland and islands) | 5152 km |
| Sea Area | 1,900,000 sq km |
| Deepest point | Solomon sea - 8581 m below sea level |
| Reef area | (less than 30 m below sea level) 40,000 sq km |
| Islands | More than 1400 |
| Time zone | Ten hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (London) |
| Map location | Latitude: equator to 14 degrees south (1575 km) Longitude: 141 degrees to 160 degrees east (2100 km) |
| Neighbouring countries | North - Federated States of Micronesia; East - Nauru and Solomon Islands; South - Australia; West - Iindonesia |
DEMOGRAPHICS - PAPUA NEW GUINEA
| Land Area | 462,840 sq km |
| Sea Area | 3.1 million sq km |
| Capital City | Port Moresby |
| Total Population | 5,190,786 (2000 Census) 6,296,873 (estimate for 2006) |
| Male | 2,691,744 |
| Female | 2,499,042 |
| Annual Population Growth Rate | 2.7% (1980-2000) |
| Population Density | 11 People per sq km |
| Human Development Index Rank | 132 (2001); 137 (2003 |
| Human Development Index Value | 0.548 (2001); 0.523 (2003) |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 57 years (2001) |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 70 per 1,000 live births (2001) |
| Crude Birth Rate | 34 per 1,000 people (1995 n 2000) |
| Crude Death Rate | 11 per 1,000 people |
| Total Fertility Rate | 4.1 children per woman (2001) |
| Literacy Rate (age 15 & above) | 57.3% |
| Labour Force Participation Rate | 67.5% |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% |
| Subsistence Employment | 67.4% |
| Wage/Job Employment | 10.4% |
| Climate | Tropical: Tempreture in Port Moresby is a constant 28 - 32 degrees Celsius. Seasons are 'Wet' (November - April and 'Dry' (May - October) |
| Languages | English, Pidgin (Tok Pisin), Motu, Hiri Motu and over 800 local languages |
| Major Religion | Christianity - local beliefs and traditions are practised in harmony with Christian beliefs. |
| Currency | 1 Kina (K) = 100 Toea (t) |
Exchange Rates:
Australian Dollar per PNG Kina
| YEAR | AUS $ |
| 2001 | 0.5476 |
| 2002 | 0.474 |
| 2003 | 0.4326 |
| 2004 | 0.4222 |
| 2005 | 0.4229 |
| 2006 | |
| 2007 |
Visitors to Papua New Guinea
Work Permits
The national airline, Air Niugini, flies direct between Port Moresby and:
• the Australian cities of Cairns and Brisbane,
• Hong Kong
• Singapore, and
• Narita in Japan.
Airlines PNG (formerly Milne Bay Air) also operates direct flights between Port Moresby and the Australian cities of Brisbane and Cairns. Australian airline, Qantas Airways, code-shares with both Air Niugini and Airlines PNG.
Domestic travel is catered for by Air Niugini, Airlines PNG and other third level airlines such as Islands Nationair and Airlink.
Visas
For persons wanting to visit Papua New Guinea for business reasons, they must obtain a Business Visa with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Papua New Guinea. The Business Visa is valid for only 60 days and can be renewed thereafter. It is also important to note that a return ticket to country of origin is necessary for a Business Visa to be issued.
The application for entry permit is lodged at the Papua New Guinea Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. The Department requires payment of fees in respect of:
• Migration Service Fee for facilitation of visa by telex/facsimile;
• Employment Visa; and
• Dependent Visa(s).
Further information on visa and other immigration matters can be obtained from:
The Director-General
Immigration & Citizenship Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
PO Box 422
Waigani NCD 131
Papua New Guinea
Telephone: (675) 301 4237 / 301 4238
Facsimile: (675) 325 5206 / 323 1022
Work Permits
It is necessary for foreigners to apply for a work permit for each non-citizen employee employed in Papua New Guinea with the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations of Papua New Guinea.
The work permit application must be accompanied by a training and localisation program in accordance with the Employment of Non-Citizens Act of Papua New Guinea. This is to monitor the entry of all immigrants into Papua New Guinea, guide decision-makers on whether or not to approve the positions in which immigrants can work, and it ensures that there is a program for the transfer of skills to Papua New Guinean citizens.
Each work permit is for a particular job/position and is generally valid for a period of three years. During that period, it is possible to replace the employee working in that position without obtaining approval for a new position.
Further information on work permit matters can be obtained from:
The Assistant Secretary – Foreign Employment
Department of Labour & Industrial Relations
PO Box 5644
Boroko NCD 111
Papua New Guinea
Telephone: (675) 321 1847
Facsimile: (675) 320 1062
The PNG Investment Promotion Authority