Papua New Guinea has a population of 10.3 million people.[1] The country is significantly more populated in its rural areas with 86% of its population based there.[2] The remaining 14%, live in urban regions.[3] The agricultural sector representing 17% of the national GDP [4], assumes 18% of total employment in Papua New Guinea.[5]
Papua New Guinea’s economy is, together with the minerals and energy extraction sector, dominated by agriculture. Even though the country has witnessed a recent economic growth, rural poverty is still a significant issue. Smallholder farming is the main driver of the agricultural sector, with most of these farmers depending on their crops through a semi-subsistence system. Coffee and cocoa are the most important crops for the sector and they are responsible for half of the total agricultural employment. The sector’s lack of modern inputs significantly decreases its agricultural productivity. Moreover, the country’s poor road network and market organization increases the logistical costs, something which is highly discouraging for small farmers. [6]
The top produced crops in Papua New Guinea are palm oil fruit, coconuts, bananas, fresh fruit and sweet potatoes.[7] The country’s top export commodities in terms of quantity are palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, green coffee, and cocoa beans.[8]
- ^ World Bank (2023). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=PG
- ^ World Bank (2023). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=PG
- ^ World Bank (2023). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=PG
- ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=PG
- ^ World Bank (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=PG
- ^ IFAD. Country Profiles: Papua New Guinea. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/papua_new_guinea
- ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in Papua New Guinea is set by law at 3.5 Papua New Guinean kina (0.8 EUR) per hour or 683 Papua New Guinean kina (165 EUR) per month, assuming 195 workhours per month.[1] The government has not been effective in enforcing labor law. At the same time the law itself is not sufficient, as it does not prohibit excessive compulsory overtime nor does it limit how many overtime hours an employee may work. In cases where fines were given due to non-obedience to the labor law, these remained uncollected due to poor tracking systems and low political will. While the majority of the actors in the country’s formal private sector complied with the labor law, this is not the case for the informal sector where many workers do not receive the minimum wage. migrant workers from Venezuela in the informal sector are particularly vulnerable to labor exploitation and often work under very poor conditions.[2]
- ^ Wage Indicator Foundation (2024). Minimum Wage-Papua New Guinea. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/papua-new-guinea
- ^ [2] U.S. Department of State (2023). Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Papua New Guinea. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/papua-new-guinea/
Living income
The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed a Living Income reference value study for rural Papua New Guinea based on the Anker methodology.
The Anker Living Income Reference Value is estimated at 1,760 Papua New Guinean kina (425 EUR) per month. This value is what a typical rural household needs to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living in rural Papua New Guinea in 2023.[1]
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2023). Anker Living Income Reference Value: Rural Papua New Guinea. https://globallivingwage.org/living-income-reference-value-rural-papua-new-guinea/
Living Income Reference Value, Rural Papua New Guinea 
Living income estimate for a typical family in rural Papua New Guinea to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living.
Rural Poverty in Papua New Guinea
The report studies the phenomenon of rural poverty in remote areas of Papua New Guinea through a case study in Obura-Wonenara.
Improving Smallholder Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea
A project by the Pacific Livelihoods Research Group which aims to increase coffee farmers’ incomes through new technologies and practices.