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Papua New Guinea

East and Southeast Asia

Photos of Papua New Guinea

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US Marines and soldiers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, hike the historical Kokoda trail during a military exercize in 2016. In 1942, Imperial Japanese forces invaded New Guinea, then a territory of Australia, in a bid to capture Port Moresby. In a bitterly contested campaign fought along the Kokoda Track from July to November 1942, the Australian Army turned back the invasion and eventually forced the Japanese back to their starting point. Ammunition and supplies were trucked 45 km (28 mi) from Port Moresby to Owers Corner where they were repacked in Uberi, a major supply base just beyond the Goldie River. From Uberi supplies had to be hand-carried along the tortuous track ahead. Native Papuans provided invaluable assistance in carrying supplies forward and evacuating casualties to rear area hospitals. Photo courtesy of the US Marine Corps/ Lance Cpl. Jesus McCloud.
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Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 57

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 190

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 30

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 31

Death rate

comparison ranking: 186

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 94

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 47

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 43

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 28

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 5

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 193

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 95

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 107

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 185

Labor force

comparison ranking: 102

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 33

Public debt

comparison ranking: 111

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 142

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 37

Exports

comparison ranking: 103

Imports

comparison ranking: 136

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 59

Energy

Communications

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 14

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 108

Waterways

comparison ranking: 14

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 65

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 164

Transnational Issues

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