If you lived in Papua New Guinea instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

live 9.0 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 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

be 77.4% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 2.6% as of 2023.

make 77.4% less money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $18,600 as of 2021, while in Papua New Guinea, the GDP per capita is $4,200 as of 2023.

be 87.8% more likely to live below the poverty line

In French Polynesia, 19.7% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In Papua New Guinea, however, that number is 37.0% as of 2002.

Life

have 2.1 times more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 13.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, there are 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 7.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 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 French Polynesia, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, 19% of the population do as of 2022.

be 56.0% less likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% 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 French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Papua New Guinea, 48% of people do as of 2020.

Geography

see 2.0 times more coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 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.
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How big is Papua New Guinea compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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