World SurveyPlay
Sheet 134 of 195 · OceaniaPNG · 5.5°S 143.0°E

Papua New Guinea

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Capital
Port Moresby
Population
10.8 million 2025
Area
462,840 km²
Neighbours
1
Locator map of Papua New GuineaPAPUA NEWGUINEAPort MoresbyINDONESIAAUSTRALIASouthPacific OceanNorthPacific OceanCoral Sea0250 km
Papua New Guinea hatched, Port Moresby marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 6.5°S 148.4°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Papua New Guinea is a country in Melanesia whose only land neighbour is Indonesia. With 462,840 km², it is about the size of Cameroon and Sweden and ranks 54th of 195 by area.

Its population was 10.8 million in 2025 (World Bank), the 91st-largest of 194. That works out at 23 people per km². Most people live outside urban areas: the urban share was 15.8% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$3,020 in current US dollars: 144th of 191 worldwide, 12th of 14 in Oceania. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 66.3 years. Forest covers 75.2% of its land (2024). 18.8% of people used the internet in 2024.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. From 11.6°S to 1.4°S, it spans about 1,143 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Port Moresby lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,090 km from the nearest land, Cape Verde.

How it compares Oceania: 14 countries

MeasureFigureWorldOceania
Population10,762,8172025, World Bank91st of 1942nd of 14
Area462,840 km²world-countries54th of 1952nd of 14
GDPUS$32.5 billion2025, World Bank, current US$109th of 1913rd of 14
GDP per capitaUS$3,0202025, World Bank, current US$144th of 19112th of 14
Population density23 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries162nd of 19412th of 14
Life expectancy66.3 years2024, World Bank160th of 19413th of 14
Urban population15.8%2025, World Bank193rd of 19414th of 14
Forest area75.2% of land2024, World Bank9th of 1944th of 14
Population growth+1.75% a year2025, World Bank58th of 1943rd of 14
Internet users18.8%2024, World Bank177th of 18811th of 11
Fertility rate3.07 births per woman2024, World Bank55th of 1948th of 14
Land neighbours1world-countries; among the 195141st of 1951st of 14
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaCameroon, Sweden and Uzbekistan

Closest in populationTajikistan, Portugal and Czechia

Neighbours 1 country by land, nearest capital first

  • Indonesia4,459 km
    Port Moresby to Jakarta, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Southern and Eastern
Capital
Port Moresby
9.46°S 147.19°E
Northernmost latitude
1.35°S
Southernmost latitude
11.63°S
Westernmost longitude
140.86°E
Easternmost longitude
155.96°E
North to south
about 1,143 km
Antipode of Port Moresby
9.47°N 32.81°W
in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,090 km from the nearest land (Cape Verde)