More than 700 different ethnic groups live in the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea. Each of these groups has its own language and traditions, which makes the country a culturally rich place. Papua New Guinea became an independent nation in 1975. Since then, some of the ethnic groups have fought to break away from the country. The government's biggest challenge has been to unite these diverse peoples. The capital and largest town is Port Moresby. GeographyLocated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea lies just to the north of Australia. Papua New Guinea is made up of land on many islands. Most of the country's area is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. (The western half of the large island is taken up by Papua, a province of Indonesia.) The rest of Papua New Guinea consists of a series of about 600 smaller islands nearby. The total area of Papua New Guinea is about 178,704 square miles (462,840 square kilometers). The physical features of Papua New Guinea differ greatly from island to island. The north and south coasts of the island of New Guinea are lined with swampy lowlands. These lowlands quickly give rise to tall mountains and highlands, which cover most of the east, west, and center of the island. The highest mountain is Mount Wilhelm, which stands at about 14,793 feet (4,509 meters). The Sepik, the Purari, and the Fly are among the many rivers that run from the mountains through the lowlands. Some of the islands off the coast of New Guinea are made of limestone and coral. However, many have been formed by volcanoes. Papua New Guinea is located in the Rim of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, a region known for its volcanoes and earthquakes. The country has a number of active volcanoes. Papua New Guinea lies near the equator in an area known as the tropics. Rain forests cover about three fourths of the country's land. The climate is generally quite warm and rainy, but it can be much cooler in the highlands. Plants and animalsPine, oak, and cedar trees grow in the country's higher regions. However, a huge variety of plants and animals thrive in the lush rain forests. The countless species of plants, trees, and flowers include thousands of different types of orchids. The kinds of animals found in Papua New Guinea are similar to those in nearby Australia. Papua New Guinea has many marsupials (animals that carry their young in pouches), such as tree kangaroos and wallabies. Among the rare animals found in the rain forests are egg-laying mammals known as spiny anteaters. The islands are also home to an immense number of rare birds. The country has more than 38 species of birds of paradise and large, flightless birds called cassowaries. Among the many insects found in Papua New Guinea is the Queen Alexandra's birdwing—a butterfly whose wingspan can reach lengths up to 1 foot (30 centimeters). People and culturePapua New Guinea's rugged and varied landscape has historically separated the people into many small communities. The country's many ethnic groups can be divided into two broad categories. The Papuans make up about 85 percent of the population. They live mainly on the island of New Guinea. The Melanesians make up most of the rest of the population. The Melanesians live mainly near the coasts of New Guinea and on the surrounding islands. Because of the country's great ethnic diversity, there are more than 700 languages spoken there. English is the official language, but few people speak it. About half the people know Tok Pisin, a language that draws on English, German, and Melanesian words. It is used as a national language along with Hiri Motu, a Papuan language. Almost two thirds of the people belong to Protestant churches. Roman Catholics make up most of the rest of the population. However, many people practice traditional religions as well as Christianity. About 85 percent of the population of Papua New Guinea lives in rural areas. The largest towns are Port Moresby and Lae, both on the island of New Guinea. Education is not required by the government. More than 80 percent of the people have no formal schooling. Economy - Farmers grow sweet potatoes in Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.
Farming and mining are the most profitable segments of the nation's economy. More than 75 percent of the workforce works in agriculture. Most of the people are occupied with growing food to feed themselves and their families. The major crops include coconuts, bananas, sweet potatoes, and sugarcane. Crops grown for export are coffee, cocoa, and oil palms. Fewer than 1 percent of the people work in mining. However, mining contributes more than 25 percent of the country's income. Papua New Guinea has large reserves of valuable metals such as gold and copper and a good amount of oil and coal. The country's manufactured goods include food and wood products. HistoryArchaeological evidence suggests that humans may have begun settling the islands of Papua New Guinea about 50,000 years ago. The later residents may have been among the first in the world to practice intensive farming, probably by about 7,000 BC. Over thousands of years, the various groups scattered among the islands developed trade networks across the ocean. The islands eventually became part of the south Asian trade routes. European rulePapua New Guinea was known to Asian sailors centuries before Europeans arrived there. Portuguese explorers came in the 16th century, but Europeans did not attempt to settle there until about the 19th century. The Dutch and British struggled for control of New Guinea. In 1884 Germany and Great Britain divided the islands between themselves. The Europeans used the land to grow valuable crops such as coffee and used the native peoples as laborers. In 1906 the British regions were transferred to Australian control. During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the islands of Papua New Guinea. After the war, Australia took over the entire area, which was renamed the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. In 1975 Australia granted full independence to the country. Papua New Guinea became an independent member of the British Commonwealth, an association of Britain and many of its former colonies. Independence and civil warFollowing independence, Papua New Guinea experienced numerous conflicts between its different ethnic groups. Some groups attempted to break away from Papua New Guinea and set up their own states. The most serious of these rebellions began on the island of Bougainville in 1988. The people who lived there felt they were not getting a fair share of the money from the island's copper mines. Two years later, an army claimed independence for Bougainville. This declaration of independence started a long civil war. A peace agreement was signed in 1998. After the civil war, Bougainville was promised greater freedom within Papua New Guinea. Population (2001 estimate), 5,287,000. |