Papua New Guinea
Melanesia
Oceania
Papua New Guinea is the country highlighted north of Australia in the supplied image. It has major mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure opportunities, but high urban costs, security concerns, and limited transport and public services.
35
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 87% data coverage
Language
English, Tok Pisin, Hiri MotuCurrency
PGKCitizenship
8 yearsPersonal tax
Progressive, up to about 42%Cost of living
$1,400 / mo (single; imported goods are costly)Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.
Score breakdown
39
Access
17%39Residence12%
38Citizenship and passport5%
46
Earning power
25%46Salary and work12%
46Buying power13%
40
Business and wealth
20%48Taxes7%
41Business8%
29Investment5%
35
Daily life
25%36Quality of life18%
31Education7%
40
Rights and institutions
13%60Freedom6%
22Rule of law7%
Healthcare collapse (29) cut the overall score from 40 to 35.
Pros
- Country-wide comparison coverage
- Local residence and work pathways available
Cons
- Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
- Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle
Best for
Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway
Score profile
Access
Residence
39
Citizenship
37
Passport
41
Earning power
Salary & work
46
Buying power
46
Cost of living
60
Economy
55
Business and wealth
Taxes
48
Personal tax
24
Corporate tax
14
Business
41
Investment
29
Wealth building
44
Daily life
Safety
44
Healthcare
29
Environment
88
Infrastructure
35
Education
31
HDI
58
Rights and institutions
Freedom
60
Rule of law
22
Access
Residence
Openness to residents
39Limited
Migrant stock0.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
| Student | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
|---|---|
| Work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Self-employed | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Permanent | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
37Limited
| Years required | 8 years |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | Depends on route and existing nationality |
| Language | Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route |
| Residence | Typical headline route: 8 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply |
| Notes | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Passport
Passport power
41Limited
81 / 198
Mobility
#62
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
- Visa-free42
- On arrival36
- eTA3
- Visa required117
Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.
Earning power
Salary & work
Labour-market strength
46Moderate
Output per worker$12,742 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.6% (2025)
Participation52.1% of 15+ (2025)
| Tech salary (estimate) | Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation |
| Job market | Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
46Moderate
GNI / person$4,840 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$514 PPP (2004)
Price level67 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality41.9 Gini (2009)
Inflation4.4% / yr (2025)
Cost of living
Affordability
60Moderate
Price level67 (US = 100) (2025)
| Rent | Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,400 / mo (single; imported goods are costly) |
| Cities | Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen |
Economy
Economic strength
55Moderate
Output & income
GDP$32.5B (2025)
GDP / person$3,020 (2025)
GNI / person$4,840 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.8% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Inflation4.4% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.6% (2025)
Output per worker$12,742 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture17.0% of GDP (2024)
Industry36.5% of GDP (2024)
Services42.0% of GDP (2024)
Main industries
Mining (gold, copper)Oil & gas (LNG)AgricultureForestryFishing
Top exports
LNG & natural gasGoldCopperPalm oilCoffee
| Type | Lower-middle-income, resources-driven |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Mining & LNG, Agriculture (coffee, palm oil), Forestry & fisheries |
| Summary | A resource-rich Pacific economy driven by LNG, gold and copper, with most people in subsistence agriculture. |
| Currency | Papua New Guinean kina |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
48Moderate
| Personal | Progressive, up to about 42% |
|---|---|
| Corporate | Generally 30% for resident companies |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Personal tax
Personal tax
24Low
| Personal | Progressive, up to about 42% |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
14Low
| Corporate | Generally 30% for resident companies |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Business
Business friendliness
41Limited
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.90 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules |
|---|---|
| Local company | Available company forms and capital requirements vary |
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
Investment
Investing environment
29Low
Market cap7% of GDP (2017)
Private credit16% of GDP (2024)
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | Check current national and subnational rules |
| Brokers | Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
44Limited
Salary & work
46Moderate
Business
41Limited
Investment
29Low
Tax friendliness
48Moderate
Cost of living
60Moderate
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
44Limited
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.80 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.65 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
29Low
Outcomes
Life expectancy66.3 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality39.4 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.06 per 1,000 (2023)
Hospital beds0.62 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$133 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements |
| Average cost | Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage |
Environment
Environment score
88Excellent
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure14.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress0.1% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
35Limited
Digital infrastructure
Internet use18.8% (2024)
Internet resilience41 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed38 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed44 / 100 download index (2026)
Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index
Transport
Transport quality2.40 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity3,198 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
31Limited
Attainment
Expected schooling11.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.0 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment2% gross (1999)
Education spending0.8% of GDP (2023)
| Tuition | $3,000-10,000 / yr |
|---|---|
| Public university | Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality |
| Languages | English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu |
| Student work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
HDI
Human development score
58Moderate
HDI0.576 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling11.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.0 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
60Moderate
| Freedom in the World | 60 / 100 (Partly free) |
|---|
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
22Low
| Rule of Law percentile | 22 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comPapua New Guinea Internal Revenue Commissionirc.gov.pgPapua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authorityica.gov.pgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.org
Quick links
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.