Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.6 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Indonesia, that number is 73 years (71 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2022.

be 67.6% less likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Indonesia, that number is 6.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.4 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Indonesia, the GDP per capita is $14,100 as of 2023.

be 74.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Indonesia, however, that number is 9.4% as of 2023.

pay a 28.6% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Indonesia, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

be 29.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Indonesia, that number is 3.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 49.5% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Indonesia, it is 96.0% as of 2020.

be 41.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Indonesia, on the other hand, 19.7 children do as of 2022.

have 47.3% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Indonesia, there are 14.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Indonesia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 93.8% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Indonesia, about 62.0% do as of 2021.

be 96.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Indonesia, that number is 93% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 87% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.5 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Indonesia spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 36.0% more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Indonesia, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 10.6 times more coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Indonesia, that number is 54,716 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Direktorat Jenderal Pajak, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea.

Indonesia: At a glance

Indonesia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 1,811,569 sq km. The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1988, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After rioting toppled Suharto in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance in Papua by the separatist Free Papua Movement.
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How big is Indonesia compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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