Sir Michael Somare
Prime Minister

(pronounced "my-KUL so-MAY-tay")

"The government's main agenda over the next five years would be to create political stability to allow for economic reform to take place."

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the Pacific Island nation that lies immediately north of Australia. It comprises the eastern half of the huge island of New Guinea, together with some 600 islands to the east, including the Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville. Land area is about 461,690 sq km (almost 179,000 sq mi).

While most of the estimated 5.1 million people (2002) are ethnically Melanesian, there are also small groups of Europeans, Chinese, and Polynesians. The official languages of government are English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu. An estimated 800 distinct languages are still spoken, which is one of the obstacles to creating a sense of nationhood. The population is nominally Christian...