World Factbook
Papua New Guinea
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: divided diagonally from upper-left corner; the upper triangle is red and has a soaring yellow bird of paradise in the center; the lower triangle is black with five five-pointed white stars of the Southern Cross constellation meaning: red, black, and yellow are the country's traditional colors; the bird of paradise is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross symbolizes the country's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
Capital
name
Port Moresby
etymology
named in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877)
time zone note
Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)
time difference
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
9 27 S, 147 11 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
8 years
Constitution
history
adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975
amendment process
proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority
Country name
former
German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
etymology
the name derives from the Malay word pua-pua , describing the tightly curled hair of the Papuan people; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island in 1545 because he thought the locals resembled the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
abbreviation
PNG
local short form
Papuaniugini
conventional long form
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form
Papua New Guinea
Independence
16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)
subordinate courts
district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA
Executive branch
cabinet
National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)
election results
James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118
head of government
Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, pending a National Parliament vote
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
National color(s)
red, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Kuk Early Agricultural Site
Political parties
Destiny Party Liberal Party Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP Melanesian Liberal Party or MLP National Alliance Party or NAP Our Development Party or ODP Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI Papua New Guinea Greens Party Papua New Guinea National Party Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP People's First Party or PFP People's Movement for Change or PMC People's National Congress Party or PNC People’s National Party People's Party or PP People's Progress Party or PPP People's Reform Party or PRP Social Democratic Party or SDP Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE United Labor Party or ULP United Resources Party or URP
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
118 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Parliament
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022
expected date of next election
July 2027
percentage of women in chamber
2.7%
parties elected and seats per party
Papua & Niugini Union Pati (PANGU) (39); People's National Congress Party (PNC) (15); United Resource Party (URP) (11); Others (40); Independents (10)
National anthem(s)
title
"O Arise, All You Sons"
history
adopted 1975
lyrics/music
Thomas SHACKLADY
National symbol(s)
bird of paradise
National coat of arms
Papua New Guinea's coat of arms was adopted on July 1, 1971, and features the country's national symbol, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise; the bird stands for the nation's freedom and rich natural environment; the traditional spear under the bird represents the country's ethnic groups and the protection of its heritage, and the Kundu drum, which is used in ceremonies, represents local artistic traditions and communication
Administrative divisions
20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 745-3679
chancery
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 745-3680
chief of mission
Ambassador Arnold Karibone AMET (since 5 September 2025)
email address and website
info@pngembassy.org http://www.pngembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Harbour City Road, Konedobu, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea
telephone
[675] 308-9100
mailing address
4240 Port Moresby Pl, Washington DC 20521-4240
chief of mission
Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 22 February 2024); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
email address and website
ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt