Papua New Guinea: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Papua New Guinea

Download the flag of Papua New Guinea as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇵🇬.

History of Papua New Guinea

Humans have lived on the island of New Guinea for tens of thousands of years, and its highland peoples developed early agriculture. Europeans began visiting in the 16th century. In 1884 Germany and Britain divided the eastern half of the island between them. Australia took over the British portion in 1906 and occupied the German portion in 1914, later administering both. Fighting during the Second World War reached the territory. The two parts were administered together after 1949, and Papua New Guinea became independent from Australia in 1975. It remains a parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm.

Key dates

1. 1884Germany and Britain establish colonial control over the northern and southeastern parts of eastern New Guinea.
2. 1906British New Guinea is transferred to Australia and renamed the Territory of Papua.
3. 1914Australian forces occupy German New Guinea early in the First World War.
4. 1942Japanese forces invade, and the Kokoda Track campaign and other fighting follow.
5. 1949Papua and New Guinea are combined into a single administrative unit under Australia.
6. 1975Papua New Guinea becomes independent from Australia on 16 September.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea uses the Papua New Guinean kina (PGK, K). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

Neighbours of Papua New Guinea

IndonesiaJakarta

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