Language
English is the official language. A local pidgin, with many English words and Melanesian grammar, is widely spoken, as well as around 700 local languages.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	6.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	6.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	6.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	6.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	5.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	5.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	5.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	5.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	5.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
12.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Papuans 85 percent, Melanesians 15 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Many people follow traditional religions and also belong to Catholic (33 percent) or Protestant (58 percent) communities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	13.6 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	13.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	13.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	13.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	13.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	13.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	13.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	13.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1964
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Percentage of population under 15

2005	40.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	40.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	41.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	41.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	41.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +10

Climate description
Hot and humid throughout the year

Currency
Kina

Telephone dialling code
(+) 675

Driving (left/right)
Left

Average life expectancy

2005	56.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	55.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	57.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	56.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	54.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	56.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	60.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	56.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	58.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	58.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	57.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	50 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	54 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	55 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	68 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	69 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	79 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	65 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	73 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	74 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	93 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	93 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	94 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2002	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002
1990-2003	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Maternal mortality

2005	470 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	300 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	145	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	139	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	137	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	133	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	132	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	133	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	No data available percent
2000-2006	No data available percent
1996-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	No data available percent
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004average	No data available percent
2001-2003average	No data available percent
2000-2002average	No data available percent

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	40 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	39 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	39 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	45 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	44 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	45 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	82 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	57.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	57.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	64.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	64.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	63.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	63.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	63.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	71.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	50.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	50.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	56.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	47 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	47 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	151 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	162 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	130 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	130 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	102 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	118 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	850 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	730 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	680 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	570 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	500 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	510 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	640 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	6.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	5.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	3.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	-0.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	2.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	8.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	16.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	-2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	12.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	6.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	13.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
40.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	6 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	1.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	1.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country below 18000 metres. P.falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported. P.vivax resistance to chloroquine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	250 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	46	UNHCR
2007	36	UNHCR
2006	31	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	23	UNHCR
2004	18	UNHCR
2003	18	UNHCR
2002	16	UNHCR
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2008	10006	UNHCR
2007	10003	UNHCR
2006	10183	UNHCR
2005	9999	UNHCR
2004	7627	UNHCR
2003	7491	UNHCR
2002	4941	UNHCR
2001	4941	UNHCR
2000	5863	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2004)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
2000-2002	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003