crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
71%
other:
28%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast; some active volcanos;
frequent earthquakes
Note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia

*Papua New Guinea, People

Population: 4,100,714 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
33.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
56.02 years
male:
55.19 years
female:
56.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective:
Papua New Guinean
Ethnic divisions:
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:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
52%
male:
65%
female:
38%
Labor force:
NA

*Papua New Guinea, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form:
Papua New Guinea
Digraph:
PP
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Jack GENIA; People's Democratic
Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI;
People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP)