To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
6open jobs
3organisations hiring
6violent events in 3 months
14deaths (estimate)
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of Indonesia. PNG was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. Its harsh geography of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s ethnic and linguistic diversity. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate -- and eventually a colony -- over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored.
The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. The New Guinea campaign of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth.
Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement on the island province of Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders reached a cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans voted in favor of independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville and PNG governments are in the process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the PNG parliament.
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 living indigenous languages are spoken (about 12% of the world's total)
Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army 0.4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
lower-middle-income Pacific island economy; primarily informal agrarian sector; natural-resource-rich and key exporter of liquified natural gas; collapse in betel nut prices, tighter monetary policy, and improved foreign-exchange availability contributing to declining inflation; challenges include lack of progress in infrastructure, agricultural reform, and corruption
10.8 MPopulation2025
15.8 %Urban population2025
$3,020GDP per capita2025
5.6 %GDP growth2025
4.4 %Inflation2025
52.2 %Extreme poverty (international line)2009
2.6 %Unemployment2025
87 %Adult literacy2022
18.8 %Internet users2024
43.3 %Access to electricity2024
70,124internally displaced people2025
7,727refugees hosted2025
3,121asylum seekers2025
1,871refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Land, Air, Maritime elementsMinistry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2025)
Party names as coded by UCDP, July – September 2026. "Government of …" refers to State forces.
| Actor | Events | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Papua New Guinea | 5 | 13 |
| Waipilini | 1 | 1 |
| Baiyer Kaiagon | 1 | 1 |
| BRA | 1 | 1 |
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Papua New Guinea can experience interruptions in the supply of water and electricity to urban centres. The water supplier to Port Moresby, Water PNG, completed some planned maintenance works in mid-August.
Consider personal preparedness and regularly check media updates from Water PNG for the latest information.
Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
Following wide-spread intercommunal violence in Wapenamanda area of Enga Province, the provincial government has declared all districts except Wabag District, which remains relatively safe, as ‘fighting zones’. The authorities report deaths, destruction of property, and the closure of public services. Checkpoints, random searches, and curfews have been introduced.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
By month: July 1 · August 1 · September 4
| Region | Events | Deaths | Civilians | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enga | 2 | 9 | 9 | stable |
| Western Highlands | 2 | 3 | 3 | new |
| Bougainville | 1 | 1 | 0 | new |
| National Capital | 1 | 1 | 1 | new |
This guide also has safety advice for regions of Papua New Guinea.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Papua New Guinea, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Outbreaks of tribal fighting are common across Papua New Guinea, including tourist areas. Ethnic disputes can quickly escalate and lead to widespread destruction of property, disruption of normal services and serious injury. Tribal fighters may be armed.
Although tribal fighters do not normally attack foreign nationals, you should stay away from areas where there is fighting.
Stay alert, monitor local media and consult local contacts such as your hotel before you travel to a new area. Be particularly cautious in the suburbs of Port Moresby and the Highlands Region. See Regional risks.
There is a high risk of serious crime in the capital, Port Moresby, and in the cities of Lae and Mount Hagen. Suburbs of towns and cities can be particularly dangerous.
High-risk crime areas include the:
There is a serious risk of bag-snatching and robbery. Criminals often use machetes (‘bush knives’) and firearms in assaults and thefts. They target people who are using banks and ATMs.
Walking after dark is particularly dangerous in Port Moresby and other urban centres.
You can take precautions such as:
Carjacking and other types of vehicle crime are common. Criminals use roadblocks outside towns to stop and loot vehicles and then attack the occupants.
If you plan travel in these areas, particularly after dark, take great care and consider travelling in convoy or using a security escort. Always lock car doors and keep windows up.
Armed criminals have attacked and robbed passengers on public buses (known as ‘PMVs’) and in taxis. There have also been incidents of rape on Port Moresby PMVs. Many PMVs and taxis are not roadworthy.
Rape and sexual assault are common in Papua New Guinea. Stay alert and leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts. See advice for women travelling abroad.
There have been serious attacks and robberies along the Kokoda Track. Although community leaders have assured tourists of their safety and wellbeing while walking the Kokoda Track, you should take care. Avoid walking independently and travel with guides from trusted travel companies. You can get details from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority or the Kokoda Track Authority.
Organised gangs have abducted people and forced them to open office safes while others are held captive until a ransom has been paid. A foreign national was kidnapped in a remote part of Southern Highlands Province in 2023. Be vigilant and leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts.
There have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Papua New Guinea.
Even small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell. See Travel Aware Drink Spiking and Methanol Poisoning for information about how to reduce the risks.
Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show the signs of methanol poisoning after drinking.
There are unexploded World War 2 weapons in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the Kokoda Track, at Milne Bay and Rabaul. If you are concerned, get advice from a trusted travel company for the areas you’re visiting.
It is a serious offence to use, possess or traffic illegal drugs, including marijuana. If convicted, you can get a long prison sentence.
Same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal. People who are convicted face up to 14 years imprisonment. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
If you plan to participate in outdoor or adventure activities, consider getting advice on safety from a trusted travel company. You can get information from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority.
If you are planning to drive in Papua New Guinea, see information on driving abroad.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Papua New Guinea for the first 6 months after you arrive. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
See rules for using a foreign driving licence in Papua New Guinea.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
Roads are in a poor state of repair, especially in rural areas, and driving is often erratic.
Following a road traffic accident, crowds can form quickly and become violent towards those they consider responsible. If you are involved in an accident, do not remain at the scene. Go to the nearest safe place before reporting the incident to the police.
Delays and cancellations of international and domestic flights often happen. Check with your airline before travel.
Papua New Guinea is in an active seismic region known as the ‘Ring of Fire’. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are possible.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Earthquakes are a serious risk in Papua New Guinea. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
There was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea at 06:04:39 local time, 5 Apr 2025. The advice is to follow emergency instructions from local authorities.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Earthquakes can be followed by tsunamis. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after a tsunami.
Papua New Guinea has many active and dormant volcanoes. You should check with your travel provider or airline and seek advice from local authorities before travelling to affected areas.
In November 2023, Mount Ulawun volcano erupted on the island of New Britain and caused flight cancellations and the evacuation of over 5,000 people. It has shown further low-level activity since then, most recently in March 2025.
Increased volcanic activity at Mount Bagana in Bougainville in 2023 resulted in widespread displacement of local residents. Some low-level activity continues.
Manam Island volcano erupted in 2018, forcing thousands to flee to the mainland. It has shown further low-level activity since then, most recently in 2024.
The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May. Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organization and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
There is a risk of flooding and landslides, especially in rural areas and during monsoon season from November to May. Exceptionally high tides (‘king tides’) can cause flooding in coastal areas.
Damage caused by heavy rain can make travel difficult.
This section has safety advice for regions of Papua New Guinea. It only covers regions where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Hela, Southern Highlands and Enga Provinces (except Wabag District) due to the high risk of tribal fighting.
If you plan to travel there, be cautious, stay away from large crowds and gatherings and consider getting private security advice. Pay attention to local advice on curfews and other restrictions which may be imposed at short notice.
Be particularly cautious and stay away from, the area around the Porgera gold mine, which has been subject to violent landowner disputes.
See Tribal fighting.
The land border between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia stretches for around 760km and is poorly defined. There are sometimes armed clashes along the border between the Indonesian military and the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, Free Papua Movement).
The Papua New Guinea government has defence units at its Wutung border post in Sandaun Province. Be extremely cautious and be prepared for possible sudden closure of the border crossing.
Bougainville Island has been calm since a 2001 peace agreement ended separatist fighting. You should still be cautious, particularly in central and southern Bougainville. There is a risk of lawlessness and violence. The autonomous Bougainville government has designated the mountainous area in central Bougainville around the old Panguna mine a ‘no go zone’. Do not travel to it without prior authorisation.
66.3yearsLife expectancy2024
39.4per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
189per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
151.8per 1,000 people at riskMalaria (new cases)2024
0.06per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2023
53.3 %Basic drinking water access2024
Source: World Health Organization, Disease Outbreak News (links for information).
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 111 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
Go to TravelHealthPro to see what health risks you’ll face in Papua New Guinea including:
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Papua New Guinea. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Medical facilities in Papua New Guinea are very basic. Hospitals often run out of basic drugs and supplies and suffer from power shortages. Evacuation by air ambulance to Australia is available in more serious cases. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Papua New Guinea where some staff will speak English.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Papua New Guinea’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Papua New Guinea set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Papua New Guinean High Commission in the UK.
To enter Papua New Guinea, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or proof of right of abode. See Dual Citizenship.
You must have a visa to visit Papua New Guinea. Visas can be obtained in advance online or at a Papua New Guinea (PNG) Embassy or High Commission. Tourist/visitor visas can also be obtained on arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby.
Apply for a Papua New Guinea visa online before you travel using the ‘Online Services’ tab on the Immigration & Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA) website.
PNG has recently reintroduced visa on arrival for certain categories of traveller. Details are available on the ICSA website. You may need to show evidence of an onward flight ticket.
You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Papua New Guinea guide.
From 1 October 2025 all travellers to Papua New Guinea must complete and submit online a Digital Arrival Card. This is free of charge and should be submitted within 72 hours of arrival.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Papua New Guinea, see:
You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
It is illegal to enter Papua New Guinea with many fruits, vegetables and animal products due to local quarantine controls.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
See jobs in Papua New GuineaFunding ↗Tenders ↗Train in field security
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
2 events · 9 deaths · 9 civilians
Enga Province in the Highlands, except Wabag District
Following wide-spread intercommunal violence in Wapenamanda area of Enga Province, the provincial government has declared all districts except Wabag District, which remains relatively safe, as ‘fighting zones’. The authorities report deaths, destruction of property, and the closure of public services. Checkpoints, random searches, and curfews have been introduced.
2 events · 3 deaths · 3 civilians
1 event · 1 death · 1 civilian
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces due to the high risk of tribal fighting
Organised gangs have abducted people and forced them to open office safes while others are held captive until a ransom has been paid. A foreign national was kidnapped in a remote part of Southern Highlands Province in 2023. Be vigilant and leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Bougainville Island has been calm since a 2001 peace agreement ended separatist fighting. You should still be cautious, particularly in central and southern Bougainville. There is a risk of lawlessness and violence. The autonomous Bougainville government has designated the mountainous area in central Bougainville around the old Panguna mine a ‘no go zone’. Do not travel to it without prior authorisation.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Earthquakes are a serious risk in Papua New Guinea. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Earthquakes are a serious risk in Papua New Guinea. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
There are unexploded World War 2 weapons in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the Kokoda Track, at Milne Bay and Rabaul. If you are concerned, get advice from a trusted travel company for the areas you’re visiting.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
The Papua New Guinea government has defence units at its Wutung border post in Sandaun Province. Be extremely cautious and be prepared for possible sudden closure of the border crossing.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Earthquakes are a serious risk in Papua New Guinea. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.