Photo: eGuide Travel · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Papua New Guinea: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Papua New Guinea is placed 164th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 9.1 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 188.65 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
164th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Papua New Guinea on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
188.65
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Papua New Guinea: 188.65. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Melanesia
- 30.24 Fiji
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 140.5
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.576
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 160th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Papua New Guinea: 0.576. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Melanesia
- 0.731 Fiji
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 0.728
02Over time
Which way Papua New Guinea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea fell from 323.27 in 2000 to 188.65 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2023 188.7 46.7 2022 188.8 53.0 2021 223.0 76.6 2020 194.1 56.0 2019 199.1 48.4 2018 204.7 49.3 2017 206.9 47.2 2016 213.8 50.6 2015 220.7 51.9 2014 231.8 52.8 2013 243.2 53.3 2012 256.8 54.6 2011 270.8 55.0 2010 288.6 56.1 2009 301.7 56.3 2008 314.5 55.8 2007 326.0 56.8 2006 324.7 58.1 2005 326.3 60.1 2004 326.4 63.0 2003 328.4 66.8 2002 329.3 66.0 2001 324.9 68.1 2000 323.3 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea rose from 0.456 in 2000 to 0.576 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2023 0.576 0.7620 2022 0.572 0.7610 2021 0.567 0.7450 2020 0.567 0.7425 2019 0.566 0.7515 2018 0.559 0.7520 2017 0.555 0.7480 2016 0.550 0.7500 2015 0.543 0.7430 2014 0.534 0.7410 2013 0.522 0.7390 2012 0.514 0.7350 2011 0.508 0.7250 2010 0.503 0.7250 2009 0.495 0.7220 2008 0.489 0.7180 2007 0.485 0.7100 2006 0.479 0.7045 2005 0.473 0.6960 2004 0.468 0.6960 2003 0.464 0.6910 2002 0.461 0.6845 2001 0.458 0.6770 2000 0.456 0.6720
03In context
Papua New Guinea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Papua New Guinea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indonesia | 118th | 54.3 | 140.5 | 0.728 |
| Papua New Guinea | 164th | 9.1 | 188.65 | 0.576 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Fiji=85th
Vanuatu123rd
Solomon Islands151st- Papua New Guinea164th
New Caledonianot placed
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Papua New Guinea in the topic’s list.
Zimbabwe161st
Myanmar162nd
Djibouti163rd- Papua New Guinea164th
Mozambique165th
Cameroon166th
Kenya167th
04Context, no vote
Where Papua New Guinea is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median2
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does better than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7459.6840.74No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 59.68 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 136 · derived.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0724,7873,072▼ Worsened since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 4,787 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 48th of 179 · derived.
Behind the world median40
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does worse than the middle country measured.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,48633,22346,486▼ Worsened since 2010
Papua New Guinea: 33,223 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 86th of 150 · derived.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.47114.2552.47▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 114.25 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.10623.718.106▲ Improved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 23.71 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0526.5117.05No real change since 2016
Papua New Guinea: 26.51 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 55th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.127.317.1No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 27.3 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 42nd of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.920.545.9No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 20.5 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3411.5113.34▲ Improved since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 11.51 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 145th of 195 · derived.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.4230.609No real change since 2016
Papua New Guinea: 0.423 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 129th of 169 · derived.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.4290.564▲ Improved since 2017
Papua New Guinea: 0.429 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 132nd of 172 · derived.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.5660.678▲ Improved since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 0.566 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 121st of 156 · derived.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9260.971No real change since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 0.926 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 143rd of 184 · derived.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13420.078.134▲ Improved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 20.07 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 45th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2631.2812.26No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 31.28 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 44th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2462.853.246▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 2.85 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 78 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8587.6192.858No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 7.619 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 42nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,2307,21425,230No real change since 2010
Papua New Guinea: 7,214 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 151 · derived.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5439.3814.54No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 39.38 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 39th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,2654,45617,265No real change since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 4,456 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 152nd of 185 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.2630.039▼ Worsened since 2020
Papua New Guinea: 0.263 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 20th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.673146.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Papua New Guinea: 31 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 164th of 195 · derived.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6366.1374.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 66.13 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 188th of 222 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16319.218.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 19.21 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 28th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9334.9639.933No real change since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 4.963 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 169th of 193 · derived.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10039100No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 39 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.144.92.1No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 44.9 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.5840.351No real change since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 0.584 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 156th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.343.6369.3▲ Improved since 2016
Papua New Guinea: 43.63 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 172nd of 188 · derived.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10043.3100No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 43.3 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.25275.374.252No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 75.37 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 9th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2119.3810.21▼ Worsened since 2010
Papua New Guinea: 19.38 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 8th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54614.063.546No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 14.06 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 8th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.81.980.8No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 1.9 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.38293.211.382▲ Improved since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 93.21 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.75023.75No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.413.498.4No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 13.4 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 904590▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 45 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.9043.9No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.849.4513.8No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 49.45 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 914391▼ Worsened since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 43 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.650.45518.65No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 0.455 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.5792.4222.579Moved since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 2.422 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 68th of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Papua New Guinea
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Children with Functional Difficulties, Foundational ID Ownership, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2009), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2009), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2009), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2009), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2009), Prosperity Gap (last 2009) and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Papua New Guinea’s 15 topics
Development & Human Capital is Papua New Guinea’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability14th of 1863/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade67th of 1773/4 keys
- Peace & Security81st of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties112th of 1984/4 keys
- Energyjoint 95th of 1652/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture117th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology142nd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions142nd of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality139th of 1833/4 keys
- Work & Labour150th of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation147th of 1763/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital164th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing171st of 2002/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge172nd of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 190th of 1933/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Papua New Guinea can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Cook Islands1st2/3 keysHighest in Melanesia
Fiji=85th3/3 keysThis page
Papua New Guinea164th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Papua New Guinea and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Papua New Guinea on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Papua New Guinea rank on development & human capital?
Papua New Guinea is placed 164th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Papua New Guinea?
9.1 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Papua New Guinea?
188.65 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How does Papua New Guinea compare with Indonesia on development & human capital?
Indonesia is placed 118th of 196, and Papua New Guinea 164th. Social Protection Coverage: Indonesia 54.3, Papua New Guinea 9.1; Maternal Mortality Ratio: Indonesia 140.5, Papua New Guinea 188.65; Human Development Index: Indonesia 0.728, Papua New Guinea 0.576.
How have Papua New Guinea’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 323.27 in 2000 to 188.65 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.456 in 2000 to 0.576 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Papua New Guinea?
No current reading is published for Papua New Guinea on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Children with Functional Difficulties, Foundational ID Ownership, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 14 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Papua New Guinea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Papua New Guinea (banner) — eGuide Travel, CC BY 2.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Papua New Guinea: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/papua-new-guinea/development