Quick Facts
Papua New Guinea, with its diverse cultures and uncontacted people groups, is primarily rural and rooted in customary communities. International Needs New Zealand has been active in Papua New Guinea, providing pastoral support.
Currently, the focus is on equipping local pastors who are passionately spreading the gospel across the nation. This support helps them in their pastoral and evangelism efforts, enabling them to effectively reach and uplift their communities.
About Papua New Guinea
Capital: Port Moresby
Language: English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, over 800 indigenous languages
Population: Approximately 9.7 million
Location: Papua New Guinea is located in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, which it shares with Indonesia. It is situated to the north of Australia, with the Solomon Sea to the east and the Coral Sea to the south.
Religion: The majority of the population identifies as Christian, with Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, and Seventh-day Adventist being the largest denominations. Traditional beliefs are also widely practiced, often in combination with Christianity.
Education: Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges in its education sector, including limited access to schools in remote areas, a shortage of qualified teachers, and inadequate infrastructure. These issues are compounded by socio-economic barriers, leading to low literacy rates and high dropout rates, especially among girls.