International Papua New Guinea relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 17 relations tracked

Papua New Guinea is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia and north of Australia. It is a sovereign nation and member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The country has a diverse culture and is home to more than 800 languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.

Population

8.9M#98 of 203

Land area

452.9K km²#54 of 203

GDP

$32.5B#111 of 197

Military expenditure

$91.0M#147 of 167

Global influence

#147Very Low

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations Papua New Guinea No data

Papua New Guinea has a population of around 9 million people and is the world's 50th-largest country by land area. The country has a tropical climate and is home to a range of natural resources, including oil, gold, copper, and timber.

Papua New Guinea has a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister as the head of government. The country has faced a number of challenges, including corruption, poverty, and a lack of infrastructure. It also has a history of political instability and has experienced several coups in the past.

Papua New Guinea is located in a strategic location in the Pacific region, and its relationship with its neighbors, including Australia and Indonesia, is important to its security and economic development. The country is also a member of regional organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Geography & terrain

Extremely rugged, dominated by dense mountain ranges, tropical rainforest, and swampy lowlands, spread across the eastern half of New Guinea and hundreds of smaller islands. Tropical climate, hot and humid with heavy rainfall, especially in the highlands. Extensive coastline along the Pacific and adjoining seas. The mountainous, jungle-covered interior is exceptionally difficult to traverse, historically isolating communities and making large-scale overland invasion extremely challenging.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Papua New Guinea Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Port Moresby (364.1K people, 4.1% of total population)
Population	8.9M (#98 of 203 countries)
Land area	452.9K km² (#54 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	64 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Papua New Guinean Kina
Main language(s)	English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu
Government type	Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Time zone	UTC+10.0
GDP	$32.5B (#111 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$3.0K (#149 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+675
Driving side	Left
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	1
Military expenditure	$91.0M
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$41.0M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$13.7M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$36.4M
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.3%
Military expenditure per capita	$10
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	Commonwealth of Nations

Shares a land border with 1 country — here is how those relations stand

Papua New Guinea's relations with its neighbors

1 Indonesia 9.4/10 See relation →

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #147 Very Low International Influence

Papua New Guinea's actions have no significant effect on the world, and a very limited impact on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Papua New Guinea by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.