Papua New Guinea
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Papua New Guinea Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, 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 Map references: Oceania Area: total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km AreaÑcomparative: 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 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 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: 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other: 6% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides EnvironmentÑcurrent issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol GeographyÑnote: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast People Population: 4,599,785 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 936,206; female 888,427) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,374,471; female 1,263,750) 65 years and over: 3% (male 62,593; female 74,338) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 2.27% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 32.37 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 57.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.06 years male: 57.18 years female: 58.98 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34% Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7% (1995 est.) Government Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG Data code: PP Government type: parliamentary democracy National capital: Port Moresby Administrative divisions: 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 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 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Michael NALI (since 16 December 1997); noteÑNALI replaces Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994) who Prime Minister SKATE fired on 12 December 1997 for his alleged role in trying to discredit SKATE cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament Legislative branch: unicameral National ParliamentÑsometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seatsÑ89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by partyÑPPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by partyÑPPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; noteÑassociation with political parties is very 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: Bougainville Unity Alliance (BUA), Samuel AKOITAI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Michael NALI; Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Pati), Chris HAIVETA; National Alliance (NA), Michael SOMARE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Iario LASARO; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; United Party (UP), Rimbiuk PATO; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; People's Unity Party (PUP), Alfred KAIABE; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; Movement for Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Christian Democratic Party, Dilu GOMA; Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's National Congress or PNC, Bill SKATE, and Christian Country Party, Avusi TANO) leader NA; People's Resources Awareness Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Rabbie SAMAI; People's Solidarity Party, Kala SWOKIM; Melanesian Labour Party, Paul MONDIA; Black Action Party, Paul WANJIK; League for National Advancement (LNA), leader NA; United Resource Party, Masket IANGALIO; Hausman Party, Waim TOKAM; Milne Bay Party, Simon MUMURIK International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby 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 Economy EconomyÑoverview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. Droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Moreover, droughts could bite into growth in 1998. GDP: purchasing power parityÑ$11.6 billion (1996 est.) GDPÑreal growth rate: 2.3% (1996 est.) GDPÑper capita: purchasing power parityÑ$2,650 (1996 est.) GDPÑcomposition by sector: agriculture: 26.4% industry: 41% services: 32.6% (1996 est.) Inflation rateÑconsumer price index: 11.6% (1996) Labor force: total: 1.941 million by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityÑcapacity: 490,000 kW (1995) ElectricityÑproduction: 1.76 billion kWh (1995) ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: 410 kWh (1995) AgricultureÑproducts: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork Exports: total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, coffee, palm oil, cocoa, lobster partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea Imports: total value: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals partners: Australia, US, Singapore, Japan, UK DebtÑexternal: $3.2 billion (1995) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96) Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1Ñ0.6299 (November 1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993); noteÑthe government floated the kina on 10 October 1994 Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.) Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth stationÑ1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0 Radios: 298,000 (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: 10,000 (1992 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 10,940 km Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,859 GRT/45,270 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1997 est.) Airports: 495 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith unpaved runways: total: 476 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 404 (1997 est.) Heliports: 2 (1997 est.) Military Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit) Military manpowerÑavailability: males age 15-49: 1,206,458 (1998 est.) Military manpowerÑfit for military service: males: 670,510 (1998 est.) Military expendituresÑdollar figure: $63 million (1997); noteÑincludes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures Military expendituresÑpercent of GDP: NA Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: none