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Papua New Guinea Facts & Worksheets

A country in Oceania known as Papua New Guinea, also known as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its surrounding islands in Melanesia, which is a part of the southwest Pacific Ocean to the north of Australia.

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A country in Oceania known as Papua New Guinea, also known as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its surrounding islands in Melanesia, which is a part of the southwest Pacific Ocean to the north of Australia. Port Moresby, on the country’s southeast coast, serves as its capital. The nation is the third-largest island nation in the world.

See the fact file below for more information on Papua New Guinea, or you can download our 27-page Papua New Guinea worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The term “papua” is taken from an antiquated regional term with unknown origins. Yigo Ortiz de Retez, a Spanish explorer, gave the region the name “New Guinea” (Nueva Guinea).
  • He observed in 1545 that the locals resembled the Africans he had previously encountered near the Guinea coast. 
  • Guiné, a Portuguese word, is the etymological source of Guinea. 
  • In reference to the residents’ dark skin color, the name is one of many toponyms with related etymologies that eventually mean “land of the blacks” or similar meanings.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Papua New Guinea is the fifty-fourth-largest country in the world. It’s located in the northernmost extension of Australia, and extends from just south of the equator to the Torres Strait, which divides New Guinea from Cape York Peninsula to the south. 
  • The New Guinea Highlands, a spine of mountains that extends the length of the island of New Guinea, are populated highlands that are primarily covered in tropical rainforests. Lowland and coastal regions, as well as very large wetland areas bordering the Sepik and Fly rivers, are home to dense rainforests.
  • It has been challenging for the nation to build transportation infrastructure because of the topography. Aircraft are the only means of transportation in some places. Coral reefs all over Papua New Guinea are being carefully monitored in order to preserve them.
  • The nation is located at the spot where several tectonic plates collide on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Numerous volcanoes are currently active, and eruptions are common. Earthquakes frequently come with tsunamis as a side effect.
  • The largest towns, including the capital Port Moresby and Lae, as well as the island of New Guinea’s eastern half, make up the country’s mainland. Other significant islands within Papua New Guinea include New Ireland, New Britain, Manus, and Bougainville.

HISTORY

  • According to archaeological data, people originally entered Papua New Guinea between 42,000 and 45,000 years ago. They were descended from African immigrants who left their continent during one of the first waves of migration. 
  • European Encounters. Although Portuguese and Spanish explorers like Dom Jorge de Menezes and Yigo Ortiz de Retez first discovered the island in the 16th century, little was known about it in Europe until the 19th century. Around 5,000 years ago, traders from Southeast Asia came to New Guinea to gather bird-of-paradise plumes. 
  • Colonialism. The southern region of the nation was made a British protectorate in 1884. In 1888, Britain annexed it as British New Guinea, along with a few other islands. Papua was formally placed under the control of the new British dominion of Australia in 1902.
  • World War II. The two territories were merged to become the Territory of Papua and New Guinea following World War II and the triumph of the Allies. Later, this was called “Papua New Guinea.“ The people of Papua pleaded with the United Nations for independence. On September 16, 1975, the country declared independence from Australia and joined the Commonwealth. 

CULTURE

  • In Papua New Guinea, there are thought to be over a thousand separate cultural groups. Due to this diversity, a wide variety of cultural expression forms have arisen; each tribe has produced original works of art, dances, costumes, weapons, music, singing, architecture, and much more. The vast majority of these many cultural groups speak their own languages.
  • To supplement their diets, some people hunt and gather wild plants (like yam roots). Fishermen, farmers, and hunters are highly respected for their abilities.
  • On the Sepik River, there is a custom of carving ancestral spirits into wood, frequently in the form of plants or animals.
  • The use of seashells as cash was outlawed in Papua New Guinea in 1933, unlike in several other parts of the country. Local traditions, however, still reflect this legacy. For example, in some societies, a man must deliver a specific quantity of golden-edged clam shells as a bride price in order to obtain a bride. In other areas, the bride price is paid in cash, pigs, cassowaries, shell money, or other animals. In other places, dowries are typically paid by brides.
  • Highlanders participate in colorful regional ceremonies known as “sing sings.” To symbolize birds, trees, or mountain spirits, they paint themselves and deck themselves out in feathers, pearls, and animal skins. At these musical festivals, significant events — like legendary battles — may occasionally be re-enacted.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • One of the world’s most diverse countries is Papua New Guinea. There are hundreds of Indigenous groups in Papua New Guinea, the majority of which are Papuans, whose ancestors first came to the territory of New Guinea tens of thousands of years ago.
  • The others are Austronesians, who, less than 4,000 years ago, arrived in the area with their forefathers. In addition, a large number of people from various nations, including Chinese, Europeans, Australians, Filipinos, Polynesians, and Micronesians, now reside there. There were 40,000 foreigners living in Papua New Guinea in 1975, most of whom were Chinese and Australian.
  • With approximately 820 indigenous languages, Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country in the world. However, the majority of these languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers.
  • With roughly 200,000 speakers, Enga is the most extensively spoken indigenous language, followed by Melpa and Huli.
  • Papua New Guinea has three official languages. Although it is not commonly spoken, English is the official language of the country and the language of the educational system.
  • Tok Pisin, also known as New Guinea Pidgin or Melanesian Pidgin, is the primary language of the nation. Until recently, a national newspaper called Wantok was also published in Tok Pisin. The southern part of Papua, where Hiri Motu is frequently spoken, is the only place where Tok Pisin is not widely spoken.

Papua New Guinea Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Papua New Guinea across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby, on the country’s southeast coast, serves as its capital. The nation is the third-largest island nation in the world.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Papua New Guinea Facts
  2. PNG National Symbols
  3. Map of Papua
  4. PNG from the Past
  5. Papua New True
  6. Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise
  7. At Home in PNG
  8. Speaking of Papua
  9. It Feather be Good
  10. Country Showdown
  11. Unity in Diversity

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Papua New Guinea located?

Papua New Guinea is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It shares a border with Indonesia to the west on the island of New Guinea and is situated just north of Australia.

What is the capital city of Papua New Guinea?

The capital city of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby. It is the largest city in the country and serves as its political, economic, and cultural center.

How many languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. It is estimated that there are over 800 different languages spoken throughout the country, making it a fascinating hub of linguistic diversity.

What is the economy of Papua New Guinea based on?

Papua New Guinea’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, mining, and natural resources. The country is rich in mineral resources, such as gold, copper, and natural gas. Additionally, industries like forestry and fishing play important roles in the economy.

What is unique about the culture of Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea is renowned for its rich cultural diversity and traditional practices. Each region and community has its distinct customs, languages, and rituals. Vibrant festivals, elaborate tribal art, and unique dances are essential aspects of the country’s cultural heritage. Community gatherings known as “sing-sings” showcase traditional attire, dance, and music, celebrating the diversity of the nation’s indigenous groups.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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