Australia vs Papua New Guinea: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Australia | Papua New Guinea | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 27.6m2025 | 10.8m2025 | 55 · 91 |
| Area | 7,741,220 km²2024 | 462,840 km²2024 | 6 · 56 |
| Density | 3.52024 | 23.42024 | 214 · 182 |
| Urban share | 87.7%2025 | 15.8%2025 | 41 · 216 |
| Fertility | 1.482024 | 3.072024 | 154 · 55 |
| Aged 65+ | 18.1%2025 | 3.6%2025 | 48 · 176 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $1.8tn2025 | $32.5bn2025 | 15 · 112 |
| GDP per capita | $65,1302025 | $3,0202025 | 19 · 165 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $71,9342025 | $5,2152025 | 28 · 164 |
| GDP growth | 1.4%2025 | 5.6%2025 | 163 · 40 |
| Agriculture share | 2.3%2025 | 17.0%2024 | 144 · 42 |
| Industry share | 23.9%2025 | 36.5%2024 | 100 · 24 |
| Services share | 67.5%2025 | 42.0%2024 | 45 · 182 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 2.9%2025 | 4.4%2025 | 96 · 48 |
| Tax revenue | 23.6%2022 | 15.5%2024 | 24 · 79 |
| Military spending | 1.92%2025 | 0.35%2025 | 68 · 150 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 23.2%2025 | — | 131 · — |
| FDI inflows | 2.1%2025 | -3.6%2025 | 97 · 194 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.1%2025 | 2.6%2025 | 119 · 163 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 46.0%2025 | 2.7%2025 | 10 · 186 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 108.4%2024 | — | 8 · — |
| Education spending | 5.1%2022 | 0.8%2023 | 60 · 181 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 83.1 yrs2024 | 66.3 yrs2024 | 22 · 185 |
| Infant mortality | 3.12024 | 31.32024 | 168 · 44 |
| Health spending | 10.4%2023 | 2.9%2023 | 25 · 181 |
| Physicians | 4.092022 | 0.062023 | 29 · 177 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 96.1%2024 | 18.8%2024 | 19 · 179 |
| Fixed broadband | 36.52024 | 0.22024 | 37 · 188 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 43.3%2024 | 7 · 203 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 14.10 t2024 | 0.52 t2024 | 12 · 161 |
| Renewable energy | 12.3%2021 | 54.6%2022 | 130 · 43 |
| Forest cover | 17.4%2024 | 75.2%2024 | 138 · 10 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
AustraliaPapua New Guinea
Life expectancy
AustraliaPapua New Guinea
Population
AustraliaPapua New Guinea
Internet users
AustraliaPapua New Guinea
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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