Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Melanesia

Oceania
35
Overall score
Limited overall · Penalty applied · 87% data coverage
Language
English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu
Currency
PGK
Citizenship
8 years
Personal tax
Progressive, up to about 42%
Cost of living
$1,400 / mo (single; imported goods are costly)
Overall scoring rubric
39
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
39Residence12%
38Citizenship and passport5%
46
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
46Salary and work12%
46Buying power13%
40
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
48Taxes7%
41Business8%
29Investment5%
35
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
36Quality of life18%
31Education7%
40
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
60Freedom6%
22Rule of law7%

Safety (44) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Penalty: Healthcare collapse (29) cut the overall score from 40 to 35. Healthcare measures life expectancy, child mortality, and health-system capacity and spending.

Environment (88) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (40) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
35

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.

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

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Limited
39
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock0.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Limited
37
Years required8 years
Dual allowedDepends on route and existing nationality
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 8 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Limited
41

Passport-index style mobility for the Papua New Guinea passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

81 / 198
Mobility
#62
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free42
  • On arrival36
  • eTA3
  • Visa required117

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
46
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$12,742 PPP (2024)
Unemployment2.6% (2025)
Participation52.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Moderate
46
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

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)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
60

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level67 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$1,400 / mo (single; imported goods are costly)
CitiesPort Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen
Economy
Economic strength
Moderate
55
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$32.5B (2025)
GDP / person$3,020 (2025)
GNI / person$4,840 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.8% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation4.4% / yr (2025)
Unemployment2.6% (2025)
Output per worker$12,742 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture17.0% of GDP (2024)
Industry36.5% of GDP (2024)
Services42.0% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Mining (gold, copper)Oil & gas (LNG)AgricultureForestryFishing
Top exports
LNG & natural gasGoldCopperPalm oilCoffee
TypeLower-middle-income, resources-driven
Key sectorsMining & LNG, Agriculture (coffee, palm oil), Forestry & fisheries
SummaryA resource-rich Pacific economy driven by LNG, gold and copper, with most people in subsistence agriculture.
CurrencyPapua New Guinean kina

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
48
PersonalProgressive, up to about 42%
CorporateGenerally 30% for resident companies
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign cosManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Low
24
PersonalProgressive, up to about 42%
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
14
CorporateGenerally 30% for resident companies
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign cosManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Limited
41
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.90 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local co.Available company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Low
29
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap7% of GDP (2017)
Private credit16% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Limited
44
How this score is calculated

How favourable Papua New Guinea is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Moderate
46
Business
Limited
41
Investment
Low
29
Tax friendliness
Moderate
48
Cost of living
Moderate
60

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Limited
44
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate9.3 per 100,000 (2010)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.80 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.65 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Low
29
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy66.3 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality39.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.06 per 1,000 (2023)
Hospital beds0.62 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$133 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Avg costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
88
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure14.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress0.1% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Limited
35
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

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

Utilities
Electricity access20.5% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.40 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity3,198 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Limited
31
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling11.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment2% gross (1999)
Education spending0.8% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$3,000-10,000 / yr
Public uniVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesEnglish, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Moderate
58
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.576 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy66.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling11.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$3,971 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
60
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World60 / 100 (Partly free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
22
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile22 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.