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NAVIGATION
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Port Moresby |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 16 September (1975) |
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Constitution:
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16 September 1975 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since NA August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Allan MARAT (since NA August 2002) 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held 15 June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association with political parties is very fluid |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [leader NA]; National Alliance or NA [George MANDA, party president]; National Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua New Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]
note: more than 40 political parties have registered to participate in the June 2002 elections |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (associate member), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Susan S. JACOBS
embassy: Douglas Street (adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea), Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, HCD121 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-1593 |
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Flag description:
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divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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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 declined over the past two years and will probably continue to falter in 2002. Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA has tried to restore integrity to state institutions, stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the support of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Significant challenges remain for MORAUTA, however, including gaining further investor confidence, specifically for the proposed Papua New Guinea-Australia oil pipeline, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, and maintaining the support of members of Parliament. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.5% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 30%
industry: 37% services: 33% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 41% (1996) (1996) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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51 (1996) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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10.3% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.3 million (1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $894 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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1.65 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 55%
hydro: 45% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.535 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork |
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Exports:
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$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia 30%, Japan 11%, China 6%, Germany 4%, South Korea 4%, UK 3%, Philippines 1%, US 1% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$1.024 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia 50%, Singapore 20%, Japan 4%, NZ 4%, Indonesia 3%, Malaysia 3%, US 2% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.6 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$400 million (1999 est.) |
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Currency:
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kina (PGK) |
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Currency code:
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PGK |
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Exchange rates:
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kina per US dollar - 3.706 (January 2002), 3.374 (2001), 2.765 (2000), 2.539 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |