World Region Information --- Papua New Guinea Information
We are researching regional information for Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a sovereign state in Oceania occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and the surrounding Melanesian islands. We will feature information that seems good to know when entering Papua New Guinea.
It is located north of mainland Australia. The western half of New Guinea is Indonesian territory.
Approx. 463,000 km2
about 8.93 million people
Papuan
English, Hirimotu, Tok Pisin, PNG Sign Language
Christianity dominates
There are more than 1000 diverse cultural groups such as art, music, dance, architecture, etc.
- Port Moresby Nature Park
- Sepik River
- Massim Museum
- Karawari River
- Mount Tavurvur
- Kitava Island
- Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery
- Port of Alotau
Primary education is free but not compulsory and the literacy rate is around 64%.
- Papua New Guinea University of Technology
- Divine Word University
- University of Papua New Guinea
- PNG National Library & Archives
1884 Britain establishes a protectorate, British New Guinea, in southeastern New Guinea. Germany annexes northern New Guinea
1906 Control of British New Guinea transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia. Renamed to Territory of Papua
1914 World War I. Australia occupies German New Guinea
1921 League of Nations grants Australia sovereignty over former German New Guinea
1942 During World War II, Japan occupies part of the territory. Battle of Rabbi (Battle of Milne Bay)
1949 Australia establishes joint administration of both Papua and New Guinea regions
1961 First elections to include Indigenous peoples. West New Guinea move to Indonesia
1963 UN transfers control of West New Guinea to Indonesia
1971 Renamed Papua New Guinea
1973 Papua New Guinea and Indonesia Border Agreement
1975 New currency issued to replace the Australian dollar. Completely independent from Australia
1989 Separatists on Bougainville Island begin struggle for independence
1998 A permanent ceasefire agreement is signed in Bougainville. It was severely damaged by the giant tsunami
2007 Laws passed to allow casinos and online gambling
2009 China signs contract to import liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea
2016 China agrees to contribute nearly US$4 billion to build a huge industrial park in Papua New Guinea
It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Parliament is unicameral. The King (the same person as the King of the United Kingdom) serves as the head of state. The Governor-General of New Zealand, appointed by the King, acts on behalf of the King. The head of government is the prime minister.
- National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
- Supreme Court
$2,504
Agriculture and mining are the main industries, and coffee is the main export crop.
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru, Niue, Vanuatu, Palau, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia
