Key Facts about Papua New Guinea

About Papua New Guinea:

• Location:  It is an island country that lies in the south-western Pacific.
• It includes the eastern half of New Guinea(the world’s second-largest island) and many small offshore islands.
• Neighbours: Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.
• Capital: Port Moresby
• Terrain: It is mainly mountainous but has low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.
• The islands that constitute Papua New Guinea were settled over a period of 40,000 years by a mixture of peoples who are generally referred to as Melanesians.
• Language:
  • English is the main language of government and commerce.  In most everyday contexts, the most widely spoken language is Tok Pisin. 
  • Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 800 languages.
• Religion: The majority of Papua New Guinea’s people are at least nominally Christian.
• Government:
  • Papua New Guinea became self-governing on December 1, 1973, and achieved independence on September 16, 1975.
  • The country is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth.
  • The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.