Area: total = 462,840 sq km; land = 452,860 sq km; water = 9,980 sq km

Climate:  tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March),

             southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Population: 5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)
                     15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)
                     65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.21% (2006 est.)

Nationality: Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups: 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 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Languages: Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%,

Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated

Government type: constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Moresby

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by governor general Sir Paulius Matane (since 29 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002);

                            Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general

Economy - overview:

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 nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first government in decades to serve full five-year term. The government has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges include the HIV/Aids epidemic, law and order, and land tenure issues. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.37 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.3%  industry: 38.1%  services: 26.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 3.4 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate: up to 80% in urban areas (2005)

Budget: revenues: $1.368 billion

            expenditures: $1.354 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork

Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Exports: $2.833 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities: oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners: Australia 27%, Japan 8.1%, China 5.5% (2005)

Imports: $1.651 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $748.8 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external: $1.882 billion (2005 est.)

Currency: kina

Currency code:  PGK

Exchange rates: kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003),

3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000)

Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul