Location eastern half of the island of New Guinea, as well as a chain of islands that extends over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers)
Bordered By Indonesia
Area 178,656 sq mi (462,840 sq km)
Highest Point Mount Wilhelm; 14,793 ft (4,509 m)
Lowest Point Pacific coast; sea level
Natural Resources gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Nationality Papua New Guinean
Population (July 2013 est) 6,431,902
Largest Cities Port Moresby
Ethnic Groups Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society; Anglican, Evangelical Alliance, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages Melanesian Pidgin, English

Capital Port Moresby
Form of Government constitutional parliamentary democracy
Current Constitution Adopted September 16, 1975
Chief of State Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952)
Head of Government Prime Minister Peter Paire O'Neill (since August 2, 2011)
Cabinet National Executive Council, appointed by Governor General on recommendation of Prime Minister
Legislature unicameral National Parliament
Judiciary Supreme Court
Local Administration 20 provinces

Currency Kina
Per Capita Income $2,800
Industries copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production, gold mining, silver mining, copper mining, crude oil production, petroleum refining, construction, tourism
Agricultural Products coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork
Export Commodities oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Import Commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Independence from Australian-administered UN Trusteeship Achieved September 16, 1975
National Holiday Independence Day, September 16
Flag divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; lower triangle in 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

SEE ALSO
Indonesia
Queen Elizabeth II

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This page was last updated on 06/02/2017.