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Papua New Guinea

Includes historical data for Papua New Guinea’s Gross Domestic Product growth, debt-to-GDP ratio and more, as well as information on trade, banking and financial sector leadership.

Agriculture And Minerals Dominate Economy

With an estimated population of about 12 million, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific Ocean is the world’s third-largest island country. One of the most culturally diverse nations globally with over 800 languages spoken, and home to an estimated 5 to 7% of the world’s tropical rainforest, its economy is dominated by two main broad drivers: the agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors on one hand, and the minerals and hydrocarbons extraction industry. A member of the Commonwealth and of the Asia-Pacific Economic (APC), its economy is projected to grow by over 3% throughout the decade.

However, challenges to growth are significant, including a sizable informal sector centered around subsistence farming and a lack of skilled labor, poor governance, and inadequate infrastructure.

Macroeconomy & Sovereign Data

Type of Government Parliamentary democracy (National Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital Port Moresby
Sovereign Ratings S&P: B–
Moody’s: B2
Fitch: Not rated
Total Population 236.2 million
Median Age 22.2
Adult Per Capita Income (PPP) 7,690.84
Total GDP (2023) USD 32.9 billion

Papua New Guinea GDP & Economic Overview

Most Recent Content

Banking & Finance

Trade & Investment

Total Exports USD 6.0 billion (2022)
Leading Exports Natural Gas
Gold
Copper
Palm Oil
Nickel
Crude Petroleum
Lumber
Refined Petroleum
Tuna
Coffee
Total Imports USD 16.1 billion (2022)
Leading Imports Refined Petroleum
Rice
Delivery Trucks
Excavation Machinery
Motor Vehicle Parts
Source: IMF, CIA The World Factbook

Papua New Guinea Leading Companies

Bank South Pacific (BSP) Financials
Kina Bank Limited Financials
National Petroleum Company of Papua New Guinea (NPCP) Energy, Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Oil Search Limited Energy, Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) Materials, Metals & Mining
Steamships Trading Company Consumer Staples, Food Distribution

Major Trade Partners — Import

Australia 34.4%
Singapore 14.3%
China 6.9%
Japan 6.4%
Malaysia 6.3%

Major Trade Partners — Export

Australia 35.9%
Japan 11.7%
Germany 7.0%
China 6.7%
Singapore 5.6%

Data Sources:

IMF World Economic Outlook

UN World Population Prospects

World Inequality Report

S&P Global Ratings

Moody’s

Fitch Ratings

IMF Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS)

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

CIA The World Factbook

World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution

Forbes Global 2000

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