New Guinea | History, People, Map, & Facts

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class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea">New Guinea</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/New-Guinea">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref284626"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-Guinea#ref284626">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref284627"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-Guinea#ref284627">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref284628"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-Guinea#ref284628">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref284629"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/New-Guinea#ref284629">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/New-Guinea">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/145340-050-FBB17D49/Owen-Stanley-Range-New-Guinea-Papua.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/149736" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/145340-004-10430A96/Owen-Stanley-Range-New-Guinea-Papua.jpg" alt="Owen Stanley Range" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-050-3F79321E/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/114736" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-004-0174AD63/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg" alt="Bismarck Range: Mount Wilhelm" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-050-21E4D897/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/281347" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-004-B7554CD8/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg" alt="New Guinea" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-050-6987AB4D/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/148488" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-004-6A3CA1EC/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg" alt="Papua" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-050-C5FB7236/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/24589" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-004-D76E0E25/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg" alt="sweet potato farming, Papua New Guinea" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/138496" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-004-76B1E6D1/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg" alt="New Guinea" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/23896-004-32D156FE/Smoke-Indonesia-fires-Hundreds-islands-plantation-owners-September-24-1997.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/19101" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/23896-004-32D156FE/Smoke-Indonesia-fires-Hundreds-islands-plantation-owners-September-24-1997.jpg" alt="Smoke over Indonesia on September 24, 1997.Hundreds of fires set by loggers, farmers, and plantation owners burned on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Smoke from fires set on the island of New Guinea is also visible." height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/5951-050-416A5EE7/regions-Asia-New-Guinea.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/540" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/5951-004-7568BDA3/regions-Asia-New-Guinea.jpg" alt="Physiographic regions of Asia and New Guinea" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/New-Guinea"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="New Guinea" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/New-Guinea" >New Guinea summary</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/102281-131-26EFC52A/islet-reef-New-Caledonia.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Island, New Caledonia." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos" >Islands and Archipelagos</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/How-far-from-north-to-south-does-the-Pacific-Ocean-extend">How far from north to south does the Pacific Ocean extend?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-the-salinity-of-the-Pacific-Ocean">What is the salinity of the Pacific Ocean?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-the-deepest-region-of-the-Pacific-Ocean">What is the deepest region of the Pacific Ocean?</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/the-largest-islands-in-the-world"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/153510-131-EFC73A4D/Sisimiut-Greenland-Davis-Strait.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Town of Sisimiut located on the coast of the Davis Strait on Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay, Greenland" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/the-largest-islands-in-the-world" >The Largest Islands in the World</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/just-how-many-oceans-are-there"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/195913-131-E6C2B632/World-map-Oceans-Continents.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="World map. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-01-11T00:00:00CST" >Jan 11, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref247175"></span>New Guinea</strong>, island of the eastern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Malay-Archipelago" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Malay Archipelago</a>, in the western <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a>, north of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Australia</a>. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the north, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bismarck-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bismarck</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Solomon-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Solomon</a> seas to the east, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Coral-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Coral Sea</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Torres-Strait" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Torres Strait</a> to the south, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arafura-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arafura Sea</a> to the southwest. New Guinea is administratively divided into two parts: its western half <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprises" data-type="MW">comprises</a> the Indonesian <em>propinsi</em> (or <em>provinsi</em>; provinces) of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Papua</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Papua" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">West Papua</a> (collectively, formerly called Irian Jaya); and its eastern half comprises the major part of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Papua New Guinea</a>, an independent country since 1975.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">New Guinea is the second largest island in the world, exceeded in size only by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Greenland</a>. It is about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) long (from northwest to southeast) and about 400 miles (650 km) wide at its widest (north to south) part. Area island, 317,150 square miles (821,400 square km). Pop. (2010) Papua and West Papua provinces including nearby islands, 3,593,803; (2011) Papua New Guinea excluding islands, 6,178,781.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref284626"> <h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="114736" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-050-3F79321E/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/411548/114736"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-050-3F79321E/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-050-3F79321E/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg?w=300" alt="Bismarck Range: Mount Wilhelm" data-width="1600" data-height="1131" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/120914-050-3F79321E/Mount-Wilhelm-part-Bismarck-Range-Papua-New.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/114736">Bismarck Range: Mount Wilhelm</a><span>Mount Wilhelm, part of the Bismarck Range, Papua New Guinea.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">An unbroken chain of mountains with peaks above 13,000 feet (4,000 metres) in elevation extends across New Guinea from the northwest to the southeast, rising to 16,024 feet (4,884 metres) at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jaya-Peak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jaya Peak</a> in western Papua province—the highest point in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Indonesia</a>. The summits of the chain are glaciated, and the mountains incorporate extinct volcanoes and elongated, fertile highland basins usually above 4,900 feet (1,490 metres) in elevation. To the north of the mountain chain is a deep structural trench occupied by the valleys of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mamberamo-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mamberamo</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sepik-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sepik</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ramu-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ramu</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Markham-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Markham</a> rivers. Fronting the north-central coastal plains of New Guinea is a series of fault-rimmed mountains that generally lie below 11,500 feet (3,500 metres). The mostly lowland Bomberai Peninsula and the more mountainous Doberai Peninsula <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitute" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute" data-type="MW">constitute</a> the extreme northwestern part of the island.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/102281-131-26EFC52A/islet-reef-New-Caledonia.jpg" alt="Island, New Caledonia." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Islands and Archipelagos</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="281347" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-050-21E4D897/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/411548/281347"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-050-21E4D897/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-050-21E4D897/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg?w=300" alt="New Guinea" data-width="2000" data-height="1350" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/241285-050-21E4D897/Locator-map-New-Guinea.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/281347">New Guinea</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">South of the central mountain chain is the <span id="ref247176"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Fly-Digul-shelf" class="md-crosslink ">Fly-Digul shelf</a>, a vast swampy plain crossed by numerous rivers including the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Fly-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Fly</a>, Bian, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Digul-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Digul</a>, Mapi, Pulau, and Lorentz. To the southeast the <span id="ref247177"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Owen-Stanley-Range" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Owen Stanley Range</a> extends about 200 miles (320 km) and forms a wide peninsula, separating the Solomon Sea to the north from the Coral Sea to the south.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The climate of New Guinea is basically tropical, with mean annual maximum temperatures ranging between 86 and 90 °F (30 and 32 °C) in the lowlands; daytime temperatures in the highlands generally <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="exceed" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/exceed" data-type="EB">exceed</a> 72 °F (22 °C) year-round. The southeast trade winds blow for about seven months each year, and rainfall on the southward-facing slopes of the central highlands frequently exceeds 300 inches (7,620 mm) annually. Consequently, the Fly-Digul shelf and bordering highlands are one of the world’s wettest places and also one of the least-inhabited. The central highlands receive rain throughout the year totaling between 100 and 160 inches (2,540 and 4,065 mm). <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Port-Moresby" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Port Moresby</a> on the southeastern coast receives only about 40 inches (1,000 mm) of rain per year.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">New Guinea has a rich variety of plant life, including orchids, figs, and species of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/southern-beech" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">false beech</a>. Mangrove swamps are found along the coastline almost everywhere. Farther inland mangroves are succeeded by nipa palms. Large stands of sago palms are found along the deltas and rivers of the southern coast. Primary lowland <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/rainforest" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">rainforest</a> covers much of New Guinea up to about 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) above <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sea level</a>. In the central highlands above 3,300 feet, stands of oak, beech, and pine are common. Wildlife includes many reptiles and such marsupials as the tree kangaroo and phalanger. Notable birds are the cassowary (a large, flightless bird), the spectacular birds of paradise, and parrots.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref284627"> <h2 class="h1">People</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="148488" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-050-6987AB4D/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/411548/148488"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-050-6987AB4D/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-050-6987AB4D/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg?w=300" alt="Papua" data-width="800" data-height="533" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/144524-050-6987AB4D/Dwellings-village-Papua-propinsi-Indonesia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/148488">Papua</a><span>Dwellings in a village of Papua <em>propinsi</em>, Indonesia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Almost the whole of New Guinea is occupied by speakers of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Papuan-languages" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Papuan languages</a>, the original settlers of the island, who live mainly in the interior and southern sections. Papuan societies are characterized by leadership invested in local “big men” and by <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="reciprocal" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reciprocal" data-type="MW">reciprocal</a> gift giving. Ethnic <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="composition" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition" data-type="MW">composition</a> is complex among the Papuans, who speak some 700 different languages. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Constituting" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Constituting" data-type="MW">Constituting</a> a small minority are <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="communities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communities" data-type="MW">communities</a> of speakers of Austronesian (Melanesian) languages on the western, northern, and eastern coasts and on many of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="affiliated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affiliated" data-type="MW">affiliated</a> offshore islands. There are also some Polynesians, Chinese, and Europeans. Several pidgins, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tok-Pisin" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Tok Pisin</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hiri-Motu" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hiri Motu</a>, are widely spoken; Indonesian (the official language of Indonesia) and English (the official language of Papua New Guinea) are also spoken. Although about two-thirds of Papua New Guinea’s population is Christian, traditional religious beliefs and rituals are still widely practiced.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Throughout most of the highland basins, much of the natural vegetation has been removed by the relatively <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/intensive-agriculture" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">intensive agriculture</a> of the highlanders. The central highlands are the most densely populated part of the island. <span id="ref247178"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/slash-and-burn-agriculture" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Swidden</a> (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/slash-and-burn-agriculture" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slash-and-burn</a>, or shifting) cultivation is practiced in the forested foothills to the north of the central highlands and in the grasslands of the Mamberamo and Sepik river <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="basins" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/basins" data-type="EB">basins</a>, where the population is sparse. The north coast is also generally well populated.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref284628"> <h2 class="h1">Economy</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="24589" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-050-C5FB7236/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/411548/24589"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-050-C5FB7236/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-050-C5FB7236/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg?w=300" alt="sweet potato farming, Papua New Guinea" data-width="1600" data-height="1063" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/3300-050-C5FB7236/Sweet-potato-farming-province-Southern-Highlands-Papua-New.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/24589">sweet potato farming, Papua New Guinea</a><span>Sweet potato farming, Southern Highlands province, Papua New Guinea.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref247179"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/copper" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Copper</a> and gold are the main mineral resources of the island. One of the largest concentrations of copper in the world is at Tembagapura, about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Mount Jaya in Papua. Another major deposit of copper has been developed just inside Papua New Guinea among the headwaters of the Fly River at Ok Tedi. Large amounts of gold also are produced at Ok Tedi. Petroleum is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="extracted" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/extracted" data-type="EB">extracted</a> in the Doberai Peninsula area of Papua and near Lake Kutubu in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea. Natural gas has been discovered in the Fly-Kikori area in Papua New Guinea.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The bulk of New Guinea’s population are subsistence farmers. Yams, taro, sago, and bananas are the lowland staple foods, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/sweet-potato" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sweet potato</a> is the main highland food; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/pig-mammal-group" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">pig</a> husbandry is widespread. Cash crops in Papua New Guinea include coffee, cacao, copra, palm oil, tea, and rubber; skyjack tuna, prawns, and timber are also exported. Internal transport consists of a few secondary coastal roads, riverboats, and airways, with the latter becoming increasingly important.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h5"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref284629"> <h2 class="h1">History</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="138496" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/411548/138496"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg?w=300" alt="New Guinea" data-width="1263" data-height="1297" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/136429-050-65E4C5F3/Warriors-outrigger-canoe-New-Guinea-1919.jpg" data-href="/media/1/411548/138496">New Guinea </a><span>Warriors in an outrigger canoe, New Guinea, c. 1919.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">New Guinea was possibly occupied as early as 50,000 years ago. By about 7000 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="sedentary" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/sedentary" data-type="EB">sedentary</a> agriculture with extensive swamp drainage and irrigation was practiced in the highland basins. The island, especially the western half, was known to Indonesian and Asian seafarers centuries before it was known to Europeans. The Portuguese in 1511 were the first Europeans to sight the island but made no landing until 1527.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Dutch claimed the western half of the island in 1828 as part of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dutch-East-Indies" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dutch East Indies</a>. In the 1870s Captain John Moresby of Great Britain surveyed the southeastern coast, and by 1884 the southeastern quadrant of New Guinea had been annexed by Great Britain. The German New Guinea Company took over administration of the northeast quadrant in the same year. The administration of British New Guinea was passed to Australia in 1904, and its name was changed to the Territory of Papua.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Following <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War I</a>, German New Guinea was taken over by Australia as a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/mandate-League-of-Nations" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">mandated territory</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">League of Nations</a> in 1921. After <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a> temporarily occupied large parts of the island during the early years of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>, Australia combined its administration of the Territory of Papua and the New Guinea <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="mandate" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate" data-type="MW">mandate</a> into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Also after the war, the western half of the island, then known as Irian Barat, was returned to Dutch control. Indonesia became independent in 1949, and a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="plebiscite" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plebiscite" data-type="MW">plebiscite</a> was held in 1969 to decide Irian Barat’s future; as a result it was annexed to Indonesia. Papua New Guinea was granted independence within the British <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commonwealth-association-of-states" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Commonwealth</a> in 1975.</p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> </section> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Adam-Augustyn/6394">Adam Augustyn</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":411548,"pageLength":1250,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"LARGE","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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New Guinea | History, People, Map, & Facts | Britannica