About Papua New Guinea

Black_sand_coast Papua New Guinea is a land of astonishing diversity. From swampy lowlands to lofty mountain peaks, from dense and steamy jungle to expansive grasslands, it is most certainly a land of geographical extremes.

But that’s not all that makes Papua New Guinea so intriguing. While only about the size of California, there are roughly 850 distinct people groups who call this island nation home.

Every distinct people group has its own language, its own culture, and to this day most remain extremely isolated from the outside world. Bound by fear of the vast spirit world in which they believe, these groups have lived and died for centuries with no knowledge of Christ’s work on their behalf.

Fast Facts
Size: 462,840 sq km (180,508 sq mi)
Population: 5 million
Life expectancy: Males 49 years, Females 51 years
Capital City: Port Moresby
Government: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

FAQs
What about volcanoes?    
Papua New Guinea is situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has many active volcanoes. The country is also subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes, mud slides, and tsunamis.

What about cannibalism?    
While cannibalism was practiced by many of the tribal groups in the past, the Australian government (which ruled PNG until 1975) did a pretty thorough job of stamping it out.

What is the weather like?    
PNG lies just south of the equator, and has a wet and dry season rather than our typical four seasons. (Yet with 300 average inches of rainfall annually, “dry” is a relative term!) Temperatures range from the mid-80’s and low humidity of the highlands to the high-90’s and high humidity in the swamps and coastal regions.

What do the people live in?    
The cities of PNG would mirror cities in developing countries around the world. In the jungle, people live in small villages. The walls of their houses are most often made of bamboo (pitpit) woven together, and the roofs are made of thatch (kunai).

What do the people eat?    
The staple of PNG is the sweet potato (kaukau). Other common foods include taro, rice, fish, chicken, and a variety of tropical fruits.