Papua New Guinea Country Overview
Where is Papua New Guinea located? The island nation of Papua New Guinea is one of the largest in the world. Because of its location in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea is included in Australia. The time zone map indicates that Papua New Guinea is located in a world time zone called “Papua New Guinea Time” where there is a time difference of 10 hours from Coordinated Universal Time. Clocks there are 10 hours ahead of the world clock (UTC+10). This difference does not change throughout the year because there is no changeover to daylight saving time.
Bordering Countries of Papua New Guinea
According to abbreviationfinder, Papua New Guinea is a country located in the South Pacific Ocean and it borders a number of other countries. To the north of Papua New Guinea lies Indonesia, a nation renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant cities such as Bali. To the east of Papua New Guinea lies the Solomon Islands, a country with an interesting cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. To the south of Papua New Guinea lies Australia, a rugged nation known for its remote mountain tribes and rainforest jungles. Finally, to the west of Papua New Guinea lies Micronesia, a small but prosperous nation home to numerous historical sites left over from its past. All these countries have their own unique culture and history that make them great destinations for travelers looking to explore Oceania. Indonesia is known for its rich culture such as its distinctive cuisine, while the Solomon Islands has numerous national parks filled with lush mountains and valleys. Australia is renowned for its remote mountain tribes such as the Aborigines, while Micronesia has many historical sites such as Yap’s Stone Money to explore. All these countries have something special to offer visitors looking to explore Oceania.
Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Papua New Guinea is 7,259,456, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
| Total population | 7,259,456 |
| Population growth rate | 1.60% |
| Birth rate | 23.70 births per 1,000 people |
| Life expectancy | |
| Overall life expectancy | 66.66 years |
| Men life expectancy | 64.44 years |
| Women life expectancy | 69.00 years |
| Age structure | |
| 0-14 years | 32.94% |
| 15-64 years | 62.66% |
| 65 years and above | 4.40% |
| Median age | 22.60 years |
| Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 1.05 |
| Population density | 15.68 residents per km² |
| Urbanization | 13.20% |
| Ethnicities | |
| approx. 750 ethnic groups: mainly Papua; Malays, Melanesians, Micronesians; Chinese minority | |
| Religions | |
| Catholics (Roman Catholic) 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterians / Methodists / London Missionary Society 8%, Anglicans 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, Other Protestants 10%, Indigenous religions 34% | |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.543 |
| HDI ranking | 155th out of 194 |
People in Papua New Guinea
A large part of the population are Melanesians and are referred to as “Papuans”. More than 700 tribes belong to the Papuans. The name comes from a Portuguese navigator who named the island’s residents after their frizzy hair in 1526. “Papu-Wah” is Malay and means “frizzy hair”. Other residents are Malays, Chinese and the descendants of Europeans.
Most of the people live in the plateaus of the country, in the south around the Gulf of Papua and on the northern islands. The country’s population density is very low. The largest city is the capital Port Moresby. Some people migrate towards the cities, but only 20 out of 100 live in a city.
Languages in Papua New Guinea
Although the country’s official language is English, only two out of 100 residents speak English. Then there is Motu, which only a few people speak. Papua New Guinea has the greatest linguistic diversity of all countries in the world, you will hear over 800 languages here.
But how can people even communicate there? The most important language in Papua New Guinea is the so-called Tok Pisin. It’s a mixture of simple English and Melanesian words.
Religions in Papua New Guinea
The missionaries in Papua New Guinea converted large parts of the population to Christianity. Today most of the residents are either Roman Catholic or Protestant, and there are a few other churches, mostly of Christian origin. The original religions were banned, including their traditions. Only the music still bears witness to the many rituals that shaped the way people lived together. Music is still made today at many village festivals.