This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):

Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition.

Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.

Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.

Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.

Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).

Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.

Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.

Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.

Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.

Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.

Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.

Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).

Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.

Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.

Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.

Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.

Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.

Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist"dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism.

Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.

Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.

Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.

Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.

Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.

Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).

Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).

Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.

Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.

Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.

Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.

Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.

Topic: Afghanistanthe United States does not recognize the Taliban governmentthe United States does not recognize the Taliban government

Topic: Albaniaparliamentary republic

Topic: Algeriapresidential republic

Topic: American Samoaunincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches;

Topic: Andorraparliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain

Topic: Angolapresidential republic

Topic: Anguillaparliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Topic: AntarcticaAntarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a system known as the Antarctic Treaty system; the system includes: 1. the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, 2. Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, 3. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991); the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings operate by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative parties at annual Treaty meetings; by January 2022, there were 54 treaty member nations: 29 consultative and 25 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 22 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; measures adopted at these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK; nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998), China (1983/1985), Czech Republic (1962/2014), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), Iceland (2015), Kazakhstan (2015), North Korea (1987), Malaysia (2011), Monaco (2008), Mongolia (2015), Pakistan (2012), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Slovenia (2019), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes;Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 measures adopted at treaty consultative meetings and approved by governments; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment and includes five annexes that have entered into force: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management; a sixth annex addressing liability arising from environmental emergencies has yet to enter into force; the Protocol prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAntarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a system known as the Antarctic Treaty system; the system includes: 1. the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, 2. Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, 3. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991); the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings operate by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative parties at annual Treaty meetings; by January 2022, there were 54 treaty member nations: 29 consultative and 25 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 22 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; measures adopted at these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK; nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998), China (1983/1985), Czech Republic (1962/2014), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), Iceland (2015), Kazakhstan (2015), North Korea (1987), Malaysia (2011), Monaco (2008), Mongolia (2015), Pakistan (2012), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Slovenia (2019), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes;Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 measures adopted at treaty consultative meetings and approved by governments; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment and includes five annexes that have entered into force: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management; a sixth annex addressing liability arising from environmental emergencies has yet to enter into force; the Protocol prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Topic: Antigua and Barbudaparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Argentinapresidential republic

Topic: Armeniaparliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system

Topic: Arubaparliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Topic: Australiafederal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Austriafederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Azerbaijanpresidential republic

Topic: Bahamas, Theparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Bahrainconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Bangladeshparliamentary republic

Topic: Barbadosparliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Belaruspresidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Topic: Belgiumfederal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Topic: Belizeparliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Beninpresidential republic

Topic: BermudaOverseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Topic: Bhutanconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Boliviapresidential republic

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaparliamentary republic

Topic: Botswanaparliamentary republic

Topic: Brazilfederal presidential republic

Topic: British Virgin IslandsOverseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Topic: Bruneiabsolute monarchy or sultanate

Topic: Bulgariaparliamentary republic

Topic: Burkina Fasopresidential republic

Topic: Burmaparliamentary republic

Topic: Burundipresidential republic

Topic: Cabo Verdeparliamentary republic

Topic: Cambodiaparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Cameroonpresidential republic

Topic: Canadafederal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution

Topic: Cayman Islandsparliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Topic: Central African Republicpresidential republic

Topic: Chadpresidential republic

Topic: Chilepresidential republic

Topic: Chinacommunist party-led state

Topic: Christmas Islandnon-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnon-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Topic: Colombiapresidential republic

Topic: Comorosfederal presidential republic

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thesemi-presidential republic

Topic: Congo, Republic of thepresidential republic

Topic: Cook Islandsparliamentary democracy

Topic: Costa Ricapresidential republic

Topic: Cote d'Ivoirepresidential republic

Topic: Croatiaparliamentary republic

Topic: Cubacommunist state

Topic: Curacaoparliamentary democracyparliamentary democracy

Topic: CyprusRepublic of Cyprus - presidential republic; "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (self-declared) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency

Topic: Czechiaparliamentary republic

Topic: Denmarkparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Djiboutipresidential republic

Topic: Dominicaparliamentary republic

Topic: Dominican Republicpresidential republic

Topic: Ecuadorpresidential republic

Topic: Egyptpresidential republic

Topic: El Salvadorpresidential republic

Topic: Equatorial Guineapresidential republic

Topic: Eritreapresidential republic

Topic: Estoniaparliamentary republic

Topic: Eswatiniabsolute monarchy

Topic: Ethiopiafederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Topic: Faroe Islandsparliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Topic: Fijiparliamentary republic

Topic: Finlandparliamentary republic

Topic: Francesemi-presidential republic

Topic: French Polynesiaparliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France

Topic: Gabonpresidential republic

Topic: Gambia, Thepresidential republic

Topic: Georgiasemi-presidential republic

Topic: Germanyfederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Ghanapresidential republic

Topic: Gibraltarparliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Topic: Greeceparliamentary republic

Topic: Greenlandparliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)

Topic: Grenadaparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Guamunincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Topic: Guatemalapresidential republic

Topic: Guernseyparliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)

Topic: Guineapresidential republic

Topic: Guinea-Bissausemi-presidential republic

Topic: Guyanaparliamentary republic

Topic: Haitisemi-presidential republic

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"

Topic: Honduraspresidential republic

Topic: Hong Kongpresidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Topic: Hungaryparliamentary republic

Topic: Icelandunitary parliamentary republic

Topic: Indiafederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Indonesiapresidential republic

Topic: Irantheocratic republic

Topic: Iraqfederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Irelandparliamentary republic

Topic: Isle of Manparliamentary democracy (Tynwald)

Topic: Israelparliamentary democracy

Topic: Italyparliamentary republic

Topic: Jamaicaparliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Japanparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Jerseyparliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)

Topic: Jordanparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Kazakhstanpresidential republic

Topic: Kenyapresidential republic

Topic: Kiribatipresidential republic

Topic: Korea, Northdictatorship, single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance"

Topic: Korea, Southpresidential republic

Topic: Kosovoparliamentary republic

Topic: Kuwaitconstitutional monarchy (emirate)

Topic: Kyrgyzstanparliamentary republic

Topic: Laoscommunist state

Topic: Latviaparliamentary republic

Topic: Lebanonparliamentary republic

Topic: Lesothoparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Liberiapresidential republic

Topic: Libyain transition

Topic: Liechtensteinconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Lithuaniasemi-presidential republic

Topic: Luxembourgconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Macauexecutive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Topic: Madagascarsemi-presidential republic

Topic: Malawipresidential republic

Topic: Malaysiafederal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Maldivespresidential republic

Topic: Malisemi-presidential republic

Topic: Maltaparliamentary republic

Topic: Marshall Islandsmixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

Topic: Mauritaniapresidential republic

Topic: Mauritiusparliamentary republic

Topic: Mexicofederal presidential republic

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States offederal republic in free association with the US

Topic: Moldovaparliamentary republic

Topic: Monacoconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Mongoliasemi-presidential republic

Topic: Montenegroparliamentary republic

Topic: Montserratparliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Topic: Moroccoparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Mozambiquepresidential republic

Topic: Namibiapresidential republic

Topic: Nauruparliamentary republic

Topic: Nepalfederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Netherlandsparliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Topic: New Caledoniaparliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France

Topic: New Zealandparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Nicaraguapresidential republic

Topic: Nigersemi-presidential republic

Topic: Nigeriafederal presidential republic

Topic: Niueparliamentary democracy

Topic: Norfolk Islandnon-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

Topic: North Macedoniaparliamentary republic

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsa commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Topic: Norwayparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Omanabsolute monarchy

Topic: Pakistanfederal parliamentary republic

Topic: Palaupresidential republic in free association with the US

Topic: Panamapresidential republic

Topic: Papua New Guineaparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Paraguaypresidential republic

Topic: Perupresidential republic

Topic: Philippinespresidential republic

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsparliamentary democracy

Topic: Polandparliamentary republic

Topic: Portugalsemi-presidential republic

Topic: Puerto Ricounincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Topic: Qatarabsolute monarchy

Topic: Romaniasemi-presidential republic

Topic: Russiasemi-presidential federation

Topic: Rwandapresidential republic

Topic: Saint Barthelemyparliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaparliamentary democracy

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisfederal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Saint Luciaparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Saint Martinparliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonparliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Samoaparliamentary republic

Topic: San Marinoparliamentary republic

Topic: Sao Tome and Principesemi-presidential republic

Topic: Saudi Arabiaabsolute monarchy

Topic: Senegalpresidential republic

Topic: Serbiaparliamentary republic

Topic: Seychellespresidential republic

Topic: Sierra Leonepresidential republic

Topic: Singaporeparliamentary republic

Topic: Sint Maartenparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Topic: Slovakiaparliamentary republic

Topic: Sloveniaparliamentary republic

Topic: Solomon Islandsparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Somaliafederal parliamentary republic

Topic: South Africaparliamentary republic

Topic: South Sudanpresidential republic

Topic: Spainparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Sri Lankapresidential republic

Topic: Sudanpresidential republic

Topic: Surinamepresidential republic

Topic: Svalbardnon-self-governing territory of Norway

Topic: Swedenparliamentary constitutional monarchy

Topic: Switzerlandfederal republic (formally a confederation)

Topic: Syriapresidential republic; highly authoritarian regime

Topic: Taiwansemi-presidential republic

Topic: Tajikistanpresidential republic

Topic: Tanzaniapresidential republic

Topic: Thailandconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Timor-Lestesemi-presidential republic

Topic: Togopresidential republic

Topic: Tokelauparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Topic: Tongaconstitutional monarchy

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoparliamentary republic

Topic: Tunisiaparliamentary republic

Topic: Turkeypresidential republic

Topic: Turkmenistanpresidential republic; authoritarian

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsparliamentary democracy

Topic: Tuvaluparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: Ugandapresidential republic

Topic: Ukrainesemi-presidential republic

Topic: United Arab Emiratesfederation of monarchies

Topic: United Kingdomparliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Topic: United Statesconstitutional federal republic

Topic: Uruguaypresidential republic

Topic: Uzbekistanpresidential republic; highly authoritarian

Topic: Vanuatuparliamentary republic

Topic: Venezuelafederal presidential republic

Topic: Vietnamcommunist state

Topic: Virgin Islandsunincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Topic: Wallis and Futunaparliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

Topic: Yemenin transition

Topic: Zambiapresidential republic

Topic: Zimbabwepresidential republic


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Aruba. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required.
US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Aruba; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the US General Council to Curacao [599] (9) 4613066; US Consulate General in Curacao, PO Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1, Curacao
Telephone Code: 297
Local Emergency Phone: 911
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical marine, little seasonal temperature variation
Currency (Code): Guilders/florins (AWG); USD accepted
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, F

Major Languages: Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, elements of African languages, and the language of the Arawak) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9%, other 12%
Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Yes
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Arikok National Park (includes Boca Prins and Natural Pool); California Dunes and Lighthouse; Alto Vista Chapel
Major Sports: Soccer, windsurfing, sailing
Cultural Practices: Wearing swimwear around town is considered rude.
Tipping Guidelines: Some bars and restaurants already add a 10-15% service charge. If you really like the service, you can still tip. Tipping $1-2 (USD) per bag is customary for the bellhops.
Souvenirs: Woodcrafts, leather goods, pottery, jewelry, aloe/skin care productsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022


Topic: Photos of Papua New Guinea

Topic: Introduction
Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. PNG’s harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s incredible ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate - and eventually a colony - over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored.

The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s, led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975.

A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG Government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self-rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence.Papua New Guinea (PNG) was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. PNG’s harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s incredible ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate - and eventually a colony - over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored.

The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s, led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975.

A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG Government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self-rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 462,840 sq km

land: 452,860 sq km

water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 824 km

border countries (1): Indonesia 824 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation: highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 667 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: agricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 63.1% (2018 est.)

other: 34.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Natural hazards: active volcanism; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamisvolcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under "Geography - note"active volcanism; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamisvolcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

note 2: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcane note 3: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

note 2: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcanenote 3: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
Map description: Papua New Guinea map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of neighboring countries.Papua New Guinea map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of neighboring countries.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 9,593,498 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s)

adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); many languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers

note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
Religions: Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army .4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)

note: data represent only the citizen population; roughly 0.3% of the population are non-citizens, consisting of Christian 52% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 10.7% , none 37.3%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.98% (male 1,182,539/female 1,139,358)

15-24 years: 19.87% (male 731,453/female 711,164)

25-54 years: 37.68% (male 1,397,903/female 1,337,143)

55-64 years: 5.83% (male 218,529/female 204,717)

65 years and over: 4.64% (2020 est.) (male 164,734/female 171,916)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 63.2

youth dependency ratio: 57.4

elderly dependency ratio: 5.8

potential support ratio: 17.2 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 24 years

male: 24 years

female: 24 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.35% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 29.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Urbanization: urban population: 13.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 400,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2016/18)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 145 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 33.59 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 36.91 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 30.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.43 years

male: 67.76 years

female: 71.19 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 36.7% (2016/18)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 86.2% of population

rural: 41.5% of population

total: 47.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population

rural: 58.5% of population

total: 52.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 2.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 57.8% of population

rural: 18.2% of population

total: 23.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 42.2% of population

rural: 81.8% of population

total: 76.5% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 55,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500

note: estimate does not include children
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 39.3% (2020 est.)

male: 53.5% (2020 est.)

female: 25.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27.8% (2009/11)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8%

women married by age 18: 27.3%

men married by age 18: 3.7% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 64.2%

male: 65.6%

female: 62.8% (2015)
People - note: the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: rain forest loss as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; unsustainable logging practices result in soil erosion, water quality degredation, and loss of habitat and biodiversity; large-scale mining projects cause adverse impacts on forests and water quality (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; inappropriate farming practices accelerate land degradion (soil erosion, siltation, loss of soil fertility); destructive fishing practices and coastal pollution due to run-off from land-based activities and oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.91 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 7.54 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 11.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Land use: agricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 63.1% (2018 est.)

other: 34.3% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 13.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1 million tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,000 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2016 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 223.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 167.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 801 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea

conventional short form: Papua New Guinea

local short form: Papuaniugini

former: German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea

abbreviation: PNG

etymology: the word "papua" derives from the Malay "papuah" describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesians; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island of New Guinea in 1545 after noting the resemblance of the locals to the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Port Moresby

geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E

time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)

etymology: named in 1873 by Captain John Moresby (1830-1922) in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby (1786-1877)
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: history: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975

amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority; amended many times, last in 2016
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)

head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Sam BASIL (since 20 December 2020)

cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote

election results: James MARAPE elected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 101 to 8
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Parliament (111 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies - 89 local, 20 provinicial, the autonomous province of Bouganville, and the National Capital District - by majority preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the constitution allows up to 126 seats

elections: last held from 24 June 2017 to 8 July 2017 (next to be held in June 2022)

election results: percent of vote by party - PNC 37%; NA 13%; Pangu 14%; URP 11%; PPP 4%; SDP 4%; Independents 3%; and smaller parties 14%; seats by party - NA; composition - men 108, women 3, percent of women 3%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general upon advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA

subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts
Political parties and leaders: National Alliance Party or NAP [Patrick PRUAITCH]
Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Sam BASIL]
Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Belden NAMAH]
People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL]
People's Party or PP [Peter IPATAS]
People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Powes PARKOP]
Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POLYE]
United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]

note: as of 8 July 2017, 45 political parties were registered
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Cephas KAYO, Minister (since 31 January 2018)

chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680

FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

email address and website:
info@pngembassy.org

http://www.pngembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joe ZADROZNY (since 14 April 2022); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu

embassy: P.O. Box 1492, Port Moresby

mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Place, Washington DC  20521-4240

telephone: [675] 308-2100

email address and website:
ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov

https://pg.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
National symbol(s): bird of paradise; national colors: red, black
National anthem: name: "O Arise All You Sons"

lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY

note: adopted 1975
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities.   Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. Following construction of a $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, began exporting liquefied natural gas to Asian markets in May 2014. The project was delivered on time and only slightly above budget. The success of the project has encouraged other companies to look at similar LNG projects. French supermajor Total is hopes to begin construction on the Papua LNG project by 2020. Due to lower global commodity prices, resource revenues of all types have fallen dramatically. PNG’s government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward.   Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues. In August, 2017, PNG launched its first-ever national trade policy, PNG Trade Policy 2017-2032. The policy goal is to maximize trade and investment by increasing exports, to reduce imports, and to increase foreign direct investment (FDI).Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. Following construction of a $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, began exporting liquefied natural gas to Asian markets in May 2014. The project was delivered on time and only slightly above budget. The success of the project has encouraged other companies to look at similar LNG projects. French supermajor Total is hopes to begin construction on the Papua LNG project by 2020. Due to lower global commodity prices, resource revenues of all types have fallen dramatically. PNG’s government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward. Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues. In August, 2017, PNG launched its first-ever national trade policy, PNG Trade Policy 2017-2032. The policy goal is to maximize trade and investment by increasing exports, to reduce imports, and to increase foreign direct investment (FDI).
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $36.69 billion (2020 est.)

$38.17 billion (2019 est.)

$36.06 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)

1.6% (2016 est.)

5.3% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,100 (2020 est.)

$4,300 (2019 est.)

$4,200 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.82 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (2017 est.)

6.7% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B2 (2016)

Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.)

industry: 42.9% (2017 est.)

services: 35% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 43.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 19.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 10% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 49.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -22.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, fruit, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, roots/tubers nes, vegetables, taro
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining (gold, silver, copper); crude oil and petroleum products; construction, tourism, livestock (pork, poultry, cattle), dairy products, spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg), fisheries products
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 3.681 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85%

industry: NA

services: NA
Unemployment rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)

2.5% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37% (2002 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 50.9 (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Budget: revenues: 3.638 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 4.591 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 36.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $4.859 billion (2017 est.)

$4.569 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $10.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$9.224 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: Australia 26%, China 26%, Japan 22%, Taiwan 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, gold, copper, lumber, crude petroleum, nickel, palm oil, fish, coffee (2019)
Imports: $4.84 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.077 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Australia 33%, China 19%, Singapore 14%, Malaysia 9% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, excavation machinery, crude petroleum, foodstuffs, delivery trucks (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.735 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.656 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $17.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$18.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: kina (PGK) per US dollar -

3.5131 (2020 est.)

3.4042 (2019 est.)

3.36915 (2018 est.)

2.7684 (2014 est.)

2.4614 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 58.9% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 82% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 55.4% (2018)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.139 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 3,701,693,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 340 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 80.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 37,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 38,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 60,300 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 27,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 159.7 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 22,170 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 17,110 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 11,784,065,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 166.984 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports: 11,764,498,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.491 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 5.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 526,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 11.316 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 166,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4.818 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: fixed-line teledensity in Papua New Guinea has seen little change over the past two decades; progress in the country’s telecom sector has come primarily from mobile networks, where accessibility has expanded considerably in recent years, with population coverage increasing from less than 3% in 2006 to more than 90% by early 2021; Digitec Communications ,operating under the Vodafone PNG banner, launched services in April 2022, becoming the country’s third mobile network operator (MNO), and joining Digicel and Bmobile; the three MNOs operate networks offering services based on GSM, 3G, and LTE, depending on location; GSM is prevalent in many rural and remote areas, while 3G and LTE are centred more on urban areas. MNOs’ investments in 4G are growing, though GSM still represents the bulk of all mobile connections owing to the low penetration of smartphones and the concentration of high-speed data networks predominantly in high value urban areas; a lack of sufficient competition and investment in the wire line segment has driven up prices and hampered network coverage and quality; infrastructure deployment costs are high, partly due to the relatively low subscriber base, the difficult terrain, and the high proportion of the population living in rural areas; fixed telecom infrastructure is almost non-existent outside urban centers, leaving most of the population unserved; PNG is the Pacific region’s largest poorly developed telecom market, with only around 22% of its people connected to the internet; this falls far behind the recommended targets set in the country’s National Broadband Policy drafted in 2013, which aimed to provide broadband access to 90% of the total population by 2018; the existing submarine cable infrastructure is insufficient to serve the country’s needs; low international capacity has meant that internet services are expensive and slow; internet access has improved, however, with the Coral Sea Cable System which came online in 2019; the cable links PNG to the Solomon Islands and Australia (landing at Sydney); despite the improvement in recent years, the country is still impacted by a connectivity infrastructure deficit, making it reliant on more expensive alternatives such as satellites, also weighing on the affordability of services for end-users; after Chinese investors expressed their interest in acquiring the financially troubled Digicel Pacific, the Australian government decided to back Telstra’s purchase of the operator, in a bid to limit Chinese expansion and influence in the region; the transaction will include Digicel’s units in Fiji, Nauru, PNG (its largest market), Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu; as part of its efforts to promote itself in the region, and to counter the growing influence of China’s telcos, the Australian government provided the bulk of the funds to complete the deal; in June 2021, the National Executive Council voted to abolish Kumul Telikom Holdings, and in September 2021 the government announced its decision to merge the state-owned telcos Bmobile and Telikom, creating a more efficient vertically integrated operator. (2022)

domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; fixed-line nearly 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 48 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 675; landing points for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, PNG-LNG, APNG-2, CSCS and the PPC-1 submarine cables to Australia, Guam, PNG and Solomon Islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 4 TV stations: 1 commercial station operating since 1987, 1 state-run station launched in 2008, 1 digital free-to-view network launched in 2014, and 1 satellite network Click TV (PNGTV) launched in 2015; the state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2018)
Internet country code: .pg
Internet users: total: 965,373 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 11% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 21,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 964,713 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30.93 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P2
Airports: total: 561 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 540

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 53

under 914 m: 476 (2021)
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 264 km oil (2013)
Roadways: total: 9,349 km (2011)

paved: 3,000 km (2011)

unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
Waterways: 11,000 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 177

by type: container ship 6, general cargo 81, oil tanker 3, other 87 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak

LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Moresby

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes land, maritime, and air elements); Ministry of Police: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (2022)
Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

0.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $100 million)

0.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $100 million)

0.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $110 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3,000 active duty troops (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PNGDF has a limited inventory consisting of a diverse mix of foreign-supplied weapons and equipment; Papua New Guinea has received most of its military assistance from Australia (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (2021)
Military - note: as of 2022, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War IIas of 2022, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War II

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Papua New Guinea-Australia: relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionistsPapua New Guinea-Australia: relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 11,601 (Indonesia) (mid-year 2021)

IDPs: 24,000 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2021)

stateless persons: 9 (mid-year 2021)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Papua New Guinea is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; families may sell girls into forced marriages to settle debts, leaving them vulnerable to forced domestic service; local and Chinese men are forced to labor in logging and mining camps; migrant women from Malaysia, Thailand, China, and the Philippines are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude at logging and mining camps, fisheries, and entertainment sites

tier rating: Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; despite remaining at Tier 3, the government continued to identify some trafficking victims and a prominent trafficking case was advanced; however, the government did not provide protective services for victims and did not systematically implement its victim identification procedures; corruption among officials in the logging sector remains a problem, and they continue to facilitate sex trafficking and forced labor; no alleged traffickers were convicted; the government dedicates little financial and human resources to combat trafficking, and awareness of trafficking is low among government officials (2020)
Illicit drugs: transit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabistransit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabis


National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.

Topic: Afghanistan54.5% (2016 est.)

Topic: Albania14.3% (2012 est.)

Topic: Algeria5.5% (2011 est.)

Topic: American SamoaNA

Topic: Angola32.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Anguilla23% (2002 est.)

Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNA

Topic: Argentina35.5% (2019 est.)

Topic: Armenia26.4% (2019 est.)

Topic: ArubaNA

Topic: Austria13.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan4.9% (2015 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The9.3% (2010 est.)

Topic: BahrainNA

Topic: Bangladesh24.3% (2016 est.)

Topic: BarbadosNA

Topic: Belarus5% (2019 est.)

Topic: Belgium14.8% (2018 est.)

Topic: Belize41% (2013 est.)

Topic: Benin38.5% (2019 est.)

Topic: Bermuda11% (2008 est.)

Topic: Bhutan8.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bolivia37.2% (2019 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina16.9% (2015 est.)

Topic: Botswana19.3% (2009 est.)

Topic: Brazil4.2% (2016 est.)

note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line

Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: BruneiNA

Topic: Bulgaria23.8% (2019 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso41.4% (2018 est.)

Topic: Burma24.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Burundi64.6% (2014 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde35% (2015 est.)

Topic: Cambodia16.5% (2016 est.)

Topic: Cameroon37.5% (2014 est.)

Topic: Canada9.4% (2008 est.)

note: this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off, a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line

Topic: Cayman IslandsNA

Topic: Central African Republic62% (2008 est.) NA

Topic: Chad42.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Chile8.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: China0.6% (2019 est.)

Topic: Colombia35.7% (2019 est.)

Topic: Comoros42.4% (2013 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the63% (2014 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the40.9% (2011 est.)

Topic: Cook IslandsNA

Topic: Costa Rica21% (2019 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire39.5% (2018 est.)

Topic: Croatia18.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: CubaNA

Topic: Cyprus14.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Czechia10.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: Denmark12.5% (2018 est.)

Topic: Djibouti21.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominica29% (2009 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic21% (2019 est.)

Topic: Ecuador25% (2019 est.)

Topic: Egypt32.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: El Salvador22.8% (2019 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea44% (2011 est.)

Topic: Eritrea50% (2004 est.)

Topic: Estonia21.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Eswatini58.9% (2016 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia23.5% (2015 est.)

Topic: European Union9.8% (2013 est.)

note: see individual country entries of member states

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe Islands10% (2015 est.)

Topic: Fiji29.9% (2019 est.)

Topic: Finland12.2% (2019 est.)

Topic: France13.6% (2018 est.)

Topic: French Polynesia19.7% (2009 est.)

Topic: Gabon33.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The48.6% (2015 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip30% (2011 est.)

note: data exclude the West Bank

Topic: Georgia19.5% (2019 est.)

Topic: Germany14.8% (2018 est.)

Topic: Ghana23.4% (2016 est.)

Topic: GibraltarNA

Topic: Greece17.9% (2018 est.)

Topic: Greenland16.2% (2015 est.)

Topic: Grenada38% (2008 est.)

Topic: Guam23% (2001 est.)

Topic: Guatemala59.3% (2014 est.)

Topic: GuernseyNA

Topic: Guinea43.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau67% (2015 est.)

Topic: Guyana35% (2006 est.)

Topic: Haiti58.5% (2012 est.)

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA

Topic: Honduras48.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong19.9% (2016 est.)

Topic: Hungary12.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Iceland8.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: India21.9% (2011 est.)

Topic: Indonesia9.4% (2019 est.)

Topic: Iran18.7% (2007 est.)

Topic: Iraq23% (2014 est.)

Topic: Ireland13.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: Isle of ManNA

Topic: Israel22% (2014 est.)

note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day

Topic: Italy20.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: Jamaica17.1% (2016 est.)

Topic: Japan16.1% (2013 est.)

Topic: JerseyNA

Topic: Jordan15.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan4.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Kenya36.1% (2015 est.)

Topic: KiribatiNA

Topic: Korea, NorthNA

Topic: Korea, South14.4% (2016 est.)

Topic: Kosovo17.6% (2015 est.)

Topic: KuwaitNA

Topic: Kyrgyzstan20.1% (2019 est.)

Topic: Laos18.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Latvia22.9% (2018 est.)

Topic: Lebanon27.4% (2011 est.)

Topic: Lesotho49.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Liberia50.9% (2016 est.)

Topic: Libyanote: about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty linenote: about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line

Topic: LiechtensteinNA

Topic: Lithuania20.6% (2018 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg17.5% (2018 est.)

Topic: MacauNA

Topic: Madagascar70.7% (2012 est.)

Topic: Malawi51.5% (2016 est.)

Topic: Malaysia5.6% (2018 est.)

Topic: Maldives8.2% (2016 est.)

Topic: Mali42.1% (2019 est.)

Topic: Malta17.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: Marshall IslandsNA

Topic: Mauritania31% (2014 est.)

Topic: Mauritius10.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Mexico41.9% (2018 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of41.2% (2013 est.)

Topic: Moldova7.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: MonacoNA

Topic: Mongolia28.4% (2018 est.)

Topic: Montenegro24.5% (2018 est.)

Topic: MontserratNA

Topic: Morocco4.8% (2013 est.)

Topic: Mozambique46.1% (2014 est.)

Topic: Namibia17.4% (2015 est.)

Topic: NauruNA

Topic: Nepal25.2% (2011 est.)

Topic: Netherlands13.6% (2019 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia17% (2008)

Topic: New ZealandNA

Topic: Nicaragua24.9% (2016 est.)

Topic: Niger40.8% (2018 est.)

Topic: Nigeria40.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: NiueNA

Topic: North Macedonia21.6% (2018 est.)

Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA

Topic: Norway12.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: OmanNA

Topic: Pakistan24.3% (2015 est.)

Topic: Palau24.9% (2006) NA

Topic: Panama22.1% (2016 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea37% (2002 est.)

Topic: Paraguay23.5% (2019 est.)

Topic: Peru20.2% (2019 est.)

Topic: Philippines16.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Poland15.4% (2018 est.)

Topic: Portugal17.2% (2018 est.)

Topic: Puerto RicoNA

Topic: QatarNA

Topic: Romania23.8% (2018 est.)

Topic: Russia12.6% (2018 est.)

Topic: Rwanda38.2% (2016 est.)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA

Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisNA

Topic: Saint Lucia25% (2016 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA

Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNA

Topic: Samoa20.3% (2013 est.)

Topic: San MarinoNA

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe66.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Saudi ArabiaNA

Topic: Senegal46.7% (2011 est.)

Topic: Serbia23.2% (2018 est.)

Topic: Seychelles25.3% (2018 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone56.8% (2018 est.)

Topic: SingaporeNA

Topic: Slovakia11.9% (2018 est.)

Topic: Slovenia12% (2018 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands12.7% (2012 est.)

Topic: SomaliaNA

Topic: South Africa55.5% (2014 est.)

Topic: South Sudan76.4% (2016 est.)

Topic: Spain20.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka4.1% (2016 est.)

Topic: Sudan46.5% (2009 est.)

Topic: Suriname70% (2002 est.)

Topic: Sweden17.1% (2018 est.)

Topic: Switzerland16% (2018 est.)

Topic: Syria82.5% (2014 est.)

Topic: Taiwan1.5% (2012 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan26.3% (2019 est.)

Topic: Tanzania26.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Thailand9.9% (2018 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste41.8% (2014 est.)

Topic: Togo55.1% (2015 est.)

Topic: TokelauNA

Topic: Tonga22.5% (2010 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago20% (2014 est.)

Topic: Tunisia15.2% (2015 est.)

Topic: Turkey14.4% (2018 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan0.2% (2012 est.)

Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA

Topic: Tuvalu26.3% (2010 est.)

Topic: Uganda21.4% (2016 est.)

Topic: Ukraine1.1% (2019 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates19.5% (2003 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom18.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: United States15.1% (2010 est.)

Topic: Uruguay8.8% (2019 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan14.1% (2013 est.)

Topic: VanuatuNA

Topic: Venezuela33.1% (2015 est.)

Topic: Vietnam6.7% (2018 est.)

Topic: Virgin Islands28.9% (2002 est.)

Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA

Topic: West Bank18% (2011 est.)

Topic: Yemen48.6% (2014 est.)

Topic: Zambia54.4% (2015 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe38.3% (2019 est.)