Administrative divisions
22 · First-level (ADM1)Boundaries shown do not imply endorsement.
Autonomous Region of BougainvilleCentral ProvinceChimbu (Simbu) ProvinceEast New Britain ProvinceEast Sepik ProvinceEastern Highlands ProvinceEnga ProvinceGulf ProvinceHela ProvinceJiwaka ProvinceMadang ProvinceManus ProvinceMilne Bay ProvinceMorobe ProvinceNational Capital DistrictNew Ireland ProvinceNorthern (Oro) ProvinceSouthern Highlands ProvinceWest New Britain ProvinceWest Sepik (Sandaun) ProvinceWestern Highlands ProvinceWestern Province
Source: geoBoundaries CGAZ (ADM1)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total area | 462,800 km²World Bank WDI [2023] |
| Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) | 2,400,000 km²Marine Regions [2024] |
| Administrative divisions (ADM1) | 22 divisionsgeoBoundaries [2026] |
| 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 IndonesiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Coastline | 5,152 kmCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Land boundaries | 824 kmCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Bordering countries | Indonesia 824 kmCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Terrain | mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothillsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Climate | tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variationCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Natural resources | gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheriesCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Highest point | Mount Wilhelm 4,509 mCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean 0 mCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Mean elevation | 667 mCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Area (comparative) | slightly larger than CaliforniaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Natural hazards | active volcanism; frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis volcanism: 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"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm; continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
