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(opens in new window) 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. 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 6 00 S, 147 00 E total:
462,840 sq km tropical; northwest monsoon (December to
March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature
variation mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and
rolling foothills lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber,
oil, fisheries arable land:
0.46% active volcanism; situated along the
Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes
severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis rain forest subject to deforestation as a
result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from
mining projects; severe drought shares island of New Guinea with
Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast 5,420,280 (July 2004 est.) Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian,
Polynesian Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%,
indigenous beliefs 34% Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region constitutional monarchy with parliamentary
democracy Port Moresby 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
16 September 1975 (from the
Australian-administered UN trusteeship) Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
based on English common law Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with
natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and
the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits,
including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The
economy has faltered over the past four years. Former Prime Minister Mekere
MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize
the kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public
enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville.
The government has had considerable success in attracting international
support, specifically gaining the backing of the IMF and the World Bank in
securing development assistance loans. Challenges face Prime Minister
Michael SOMARE, including curbing inflation, gaining further investor
confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, maintaining
the support of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with
Australia, the former colonial ruler. 14.7% (2003 est.) 3.25 million (2003) agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA
coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels,
tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork copra crushing, palm oil processing,
plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and
copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism $1.938 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil,
coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns Australia 27%, Japan 7.3%, China 5.8%
(2003 est.) machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals Australia 44.3%, Singapore 20.5%, New
Zealand 7.7%, China 4.9% (2003 est.) kina (PGK) 62,000 (2002) 15,000 (2002) general assessment:
services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone
and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio
communication services total: 19,600
km 10,940 km (2003) oil 264 km (2003) Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
total: 23
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT 559 (2003 est.) total: 21 total: 538
2 (2003 est.) Papua New Guinea Defense Force: Ground
Force, Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element seeks assistance from Australia to control
illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including
smuggling, drug trafficking, and Indonesian squatters and secessionists
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