Papua New Guinea

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The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (informally, Papua New Guinea or PNG) is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the Indonesian provinces of Papua (Indonesian province) and West Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat) occupy the western half of New Guinea). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region defined since the early 19th century as Melanesia. Its capital and one of its few major cities is Port Moresby. It is one of the most diverse places on Earth. There are over 700 indigenous languages and at least as many indigenous societies, out of a population of just over 5 million. It is also one of the most rural, with only 18% living in urban centers{{fn|1}}.

Related Topics:
Oceania - New Guinea - Indonesia - Papua (Indonesian province) - West Irian Jaya (''Irian Jaya Barat'') - Pacific Ocean - Melanesia - Port Moresby - Urban

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The majority of the population live in indigenous societies and practice subsistence-based agriculture. These societies and clans have some degree of distinct acknowledgement within the nation's constitutional framework. The PNG Constitution (Preamble 5(4)) expresses the wish for traditional villages and communities to remain as viable units of Papua New Guinean society{{fn|2}}, and for active steps to be taken in their preservation. The PNG legislature has enacted various laws in which a type of tenure called "customary land title" is recognised, meaning that the traditional lands of the indigenous peoples have some legal basis to inalienable tenure. This customary land notionally covers most of the usable land in the country (some 97% of total land area{{fn|3}}); the remainder is either in private freehold or the property of the PNG Government.

Related Topics:
Subsistence-based - Agriculture - Customary land title - Indigenous peoples

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Its geography is similarly diverse, and in places extremely rugged. A spine of mountains runs the length of the island of New Guinea, forming a populous highlands region. Dense rainforests can be found in the lowland and coastal areas. This terrain has made it difficult for the country to develop transportation infrastructure. In some areas, planes are the only mode of transport. After being colonized by three external powers since 1888, Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975.

Related Topics:
Highlands - Rainforest - Independence - 1975

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