Australia vs Papua New Guinea: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 108 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Australia and Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea leads on Major Urban Areas Population (410,000 people) against Australia (5.24 people); Papua New Guinea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (37,000) against Australia (1.18); Papua New Guinea leads on Radios (410,000) against Australia (25.50). Across 108 compared metrics, Australia wins on 58 and Papua New Guinea wins on 39.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 28 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.06 %★ | 24.07 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 24% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.15 points★ | 58.35 points | |
| Radios | 25.5 | 410,000★ | |
| Televisions | 10.15 | 59,841★ | |
| Waterways | 2,000 | 11,000★ |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.42M | -12,308★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 394.65 | 5.8★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Population Distribution | population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by | population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 72 Cubic meters per year | 211.6 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 492 | 801★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.18 % | 0.86 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 83.98 | 176★ | |
| Agricultural land | 3.67M sq. km★ | 14,050 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 25,760 km★ | 5,152 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 2,840.49 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 19,450★ | 0 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 90.34 %★ | 34.23 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 20★ | |
| Independence | 1 | 16★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.4 | 14.1★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 10.5 % of GDP★ | 2.3 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.1 %★ | 0.9 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 3.8 people/sq km★ | 0.2 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 2 %★ | 189 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 28.7★ | 21.9 | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 29 % | 21.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 30,000★ | 55,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 27.8 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 60,000★ | 4,000 |
People and Society
28 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 3.09★ | 0.25 | |
| Airports | 2,257★ | 569 | |
| Civil Air Travel | about 150 major transport aircraft | about 15 major transport aircraft | |
| Heliports | 392★ | 3 |