Papua New Guinea is a fascinating country, home to about 9-10 million people, though getting exact census numbers is tricky given the rugged terrain and remote communities. The population is incredibly young, with a median age in the mid-20s, and it’s growing at around 2-3% annually.
What really sets PNG apart is its extraordinary diversity. We’re talking about over 800 languages spoken across the country – that’s more than 10% of the world’s languages in a nation smaller than California. The population is overwhelmingly Melanesian (around 99%), with small communities of Polynesian, Micronesian, Chinese, and European descent. About 87% of people live in rural areas, many in villages accessible only by foot or small aircraft.
PNG is resource-rich; GDP per capita hovers around $3,000-4,000, the country relies on mining, oil, gas, and agriculture (coffee, palm oil, cocoa). However, wealth distribution is extremely uneven, and many Papua New Guineans live on subsistence farming.
Education and health indicators show the challenges of development in such a difficult geography. Literacy rates are around 64%, with a significant gender gap favoring males. Life expectancy is in the mid-60s, which is lower than many neighbors in the Pacific. Access to healthcare and education varies dramatically between urban centers like Port Moresby and remote highland villages.
Christianity dominates (over 95%), but traditional beliefs often blend with Christian practices in many communities.
