If you lived in Papua New Guinea instead of British Virgin Islands, you would:

Health

live 10.2 years less

In British Virgin Islands, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 87.7% less money

British Virgin Islands has a GDP per capita of $34,200 as of 2017, while in Papua New Guinea, the GDP per capita is $4,200 as of 2023.

Life

have 2.6 times more children

In British Virgin Islands, there are approximately 10.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Papua New Guinea, there are 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.4 times more likely to die during infancy

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 14.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, on the other hand, 33.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 81.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, 19% of the population do as of 2022.

be 58.8% less likely to have internet access

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 77.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Papua New Guinea, about 32.0% do as of 2021.

be 52.5% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Papua New Guinea, 48% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 46.2% less on education

British Virgin Islands spends 2.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 64.4 times more coastline

British Virgin Islands has a total of 80 km of coastline. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 5,152 km.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Papua New Guinea: At a glance

Papua New Guinea (sometimes abbreviated PNG) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 452,860 sq km. The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Read more

How big is Papua New Guinea compared to British Virgin Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Papua New Guinea.or British Virgin Islands It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.