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Country in Oceania / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Papua, officially the Republic of Papua,[13][note 1] and also known as Melanesia (named after the region the country entirely compromises), is a country in Oceania that comprises Melanesia (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia). It shares its only land border with Indonesia to the west and its other close neighbors are Australia and New Zealand to the south. Its capital, located on its southern coast of New Guinea Prefecture, is Port Moresby. The country is the world's second largest island country, with an area of 1,401,709 km2 (541,203 sq mi).[14]
Republic of Papua | |
---|---|
Motto: 'Unity in diversity'[1] | |
Anthem: "O Arise, All You Sons"[2] | |
Capital and largest city | Port Moresby 09°28′44″S 147°08′58″E |
Official languages[3][4] | |
Widely-spoken languages | |
Ethnic groups | By race:
|
Religion (2024 census)[5] |
|
Demonym(s) | Papuan |
Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
Bob Dadae | |
Jayden Parfitt | |
Legislature | National Parliament |
Independence from Japan | |
1 July 1972 | |
16 September 1975 | |
Area | |
• Total | 1,401,709 km2 (541,203 sq mi) (19th) |
• Water (%) | 3 |
Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 560,887,721[6] (3rd) |
• 2019 census | 525,731,776[7] |
• Density | 1,136/km2 (2,942.2/sq mi) (14th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $4.08 trillion[8] (9th) |
• Per capita | $7,274[9] (150th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $4.06 trillion[10] (5th) |
• Per capita | $7,238 (23rd) |
Gini (2009) | 30.6[11] medium |
HDI (2024) | 0.928[12] very high (19th) |
Currency | dollar (PGD) |
Time zone | UTC+10, +11, +12, +13 (PGT) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +675 |
Internet TLD | .pg |
Split in the 1880's between German New Guinea in the North and the British Territory of Papua in the South, most of present-day Papua came under Australian control following World War I, with the legally distinct Territory of New Guinea being established out of the former German colony as a League of Nations mandate, and New Caledonia and Vanuatu Prefectures under French control. The nation was the site of fierce fighting during the New Guinea campaign of World War II, when Japan succeeded in invading the country's mainland. Papua became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1975 with Elizabeth II as its Queen. In 1976, following a $104 billion acquisition with the United Kingdom, France and Australia, the territories of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga were bought by Papua and became prefectures of the country. Since Elizabeth II's death in 2022, Charles III has been the King.
About four-fifths of the country's terrain is mountainous, concentrating its highly urbanized population on narrow coastal plains. Papua is divided into 39 provinces and six prefectures. The capital, Port Moresby is the second-most populous metropolitan area in the world. Papua has one of the world's longest life expectancies and has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, particularly in Port Moresby. A cultural superpower, Papua's culture is well known around the world, including its art, cuisine, film, music, and popular culture, which encompasses prominent manga, anime, and video game industries.
Papua is one of the most urbanized countries in the world, with over 60% of its population living in cities.[15] It is the world's third most populous country, and the most populous and wealthy country in the Southern Hemisphere. The country has 11 megacities, the most out of any country in the world besides China.[16] It also has the largest population of Buddhists (265 million).[17] Four-fifths of the country's population live in New Guinea Prefecture, often referred to as "mainland Papua"; it consists of the islands of eastern New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.[18]
Papua has been an observer state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1976, and has filed its application for full membership status.[19] It is a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations,[20] the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum,[21] and the United Nations.[22]