eracy: 52% (male 65%, female 38%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 1,660,000; 732,806 in salaried employment; agriculture
54%, government 25%, industry and commerce 9%, services 8% (1980)

_#_Organized labor: more than 50 trade unions, some with fewer than 20
members

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea

_#_Type: parliamentary democracy

_#_Capital: Port Moresby

_#_Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern
Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne
Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons,
Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

_#_Independence: 16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under
Australian administration)

_#_Constitution: 16 September 1975

_#_Legal system: based on English common law

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, National Executive Council (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Vincent ERI (since 18 January 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Rabbie NAMALIU (since 4 July
1988); Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO (since 29 April 1990);
note--Deputy Prime Minister Ted DIRO has the title only since he has
been suspended pending trial for alleged corruption charges

_#_Political parties:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU;
People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN;
United Party (UP), Paul TORATO;
Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA;
National Party (NP), Paul PORA;
Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

National Parliament--last held 13 June-4 July 1987 (next to be held
4 July 1992);
results--PP 14.7%, PDM 10.8%, PPP 6.1%, MA 5.6%, NP 5.1%, PAP 3.2%,
independents 42.9%, other 11.6%;
seats--(109 total) PP 26, PDM 17, NP 12, MA 7, PAP 6, PPP 5, independents
22, other 14

_#_Communists: no significant strength

_#_Member of: ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
I