Papua New Guinea
Oceania · Melanesia
Extraordinary cultural diversity with 800+ languages; resource-rich, challenging for visitors.
At a Glance
📈Papua New Guinea's Human Development Index
0.568
Medium human development#152 of 191 countries worldwide, #13 of 15 in Oceania.
Higher than 21% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is one of the world's most ecologically and culturally diverse countries, with over 800 languages spoken and a landscape of rainforest, volcanic mountains, and river systems that remains largely unexplored. The highland cultures have traditions of ceremony, body decoration, and communal life that are unlike anything elsewhere on earth. It is strictly for experienced travellers who embrace complexity and remoteness as part of the journey.
- Over 800 languages spoken — more than any other country on earth.
- Home to the world's largest butterfly: Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, wingspan over 30cm.
- Uncontacted tribes still exist in its interior highlands.
Quick Facts
Capital
Port Moresby
Languages
English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Currency
K PGK
Area
452,860 km²
Nomad Hub
GDP / Capita
$3K
PPP / Capita
$5K
Inflation
4.4%
Unemployment
2.6%
GNI / Capita
$3K
Tax Revenue
15.5%
FDI Inflows
-0.6%
Education Spend
0.8%
Cost of Living
47.5
Price Level Index
30th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.394 → 0.568 (+0.174)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Papua New Guinea for real?
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💬Quick answers
What is Papua New Guinea's Human Development Index?
Papua New Guinea's Human Development Index is 0.568 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #152 of 191 countries.
Is Papua New Guinea safe?
Papua New Guinea scores 2.00 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #83 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Papua New Guinea?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Papua New Guinea at 47.5 (New York = 100); that is #90 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Papua New Guinea?
Life expectancy at birth in Papua New Guinea is 66.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #162 of 195 countries.