Photo: eGuide Travel · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Papua New Guinea: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Papua New Guinea is placed joint 95th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 516.07 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 23.68 (2024).
Share
Energy
joint95th
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Papua New Guinea on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
516.07
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Papua New Guinea: 516.07. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Melanesia
- 275.65 Fiji
23.68
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Papua New Guinea: 23.68. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Melanesia
- 63.48 Fiji
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
No reading
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
World Energy Council publishes no 2023 figure for Papua New Guinea, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 60.5
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.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea rose from 398.16 in 2000 to 516.07 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2024 516 433.7 2023 516 452.7 2022 532 476.3 2021 509 469.0 2020 493 482.0 2019 497 488.2 2018 522 500.4 2017 492 506.3 2016 478 521.9 2015 467 524.8 2014 454 522.3 2013 442 508.8 2012 432 525.4 2011 428 521.4 2010 440 515.5 2009 431 533.6 2008 434 517.2 2007 429 535.3 2006 451 537.5 2005 459 521.4 2004 495 523.1 2003 474 543.1 2002 463 551.3 2001 449 559.3 2000 398 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
Papua New GuineaWorld median
Papua New Guinea fell from 42.4 in 2000 to 23.68 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Papua New Guinea World median 2024 23.68 32.062 2023 23.68 28.000 2022 21.13 28.881 2021 24.72 28.286 2020 27.32 27.125 2019 26.40 26.296 2018 22.94 25.505 2017 27.82 24.023 2016 29.77 22.218 2015 31.35 21.915 2014 33.41 21.151 2013 35.16 21.593 2012 36.73 19.869 2011 37.47 18.584 2010 35.61 18.572 2009 37.09 17.886 2008 36.66 15.923 2007 37.31 15.586 2006 33.82 15.392 2005 32.60 16.438 2004 26.78 16.445 2003 30.12 16.339 2002 32.06 13.826 2001 34.33 14.023 2000 42.40 15.612
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 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
Papua New Guinea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | =95th | 516.07 | 23.68 | — |
 Indonesia | not placed | — | — | 60.5 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Melanesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Fiji=42nd- Papua New Guinea=95th
New Caledonia101st
Solomon Islands129th
Vanuatunot placed
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Papua New Guinea in the topic’s list.
Gabon93rd
Myanmar94th
Ghana=95th- Papua New Guinea=95th
Somalia97th
Madagascar=98th
Tanzania=98th
04Context, no vote
Where Papua New Guinea is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under energy, 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 median1
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does better than the middle country measured.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.210.7893.21▲ Improved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0.789 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 163rd of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does worse than the middle country measured.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3223.6837.32▼ Worsened since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 23.68 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 103rd of 162 · derived.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7383.1982.738▼ Worsened since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 3.198 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2624.5933.26▲ Improved since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 24.59 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
RISE Electricity Access Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 65.6752.3665.67▼ Worsened since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 52.36 · world median 65.67 · Electricity access policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 9.471 to 90.47; higher is better.
Position 40th of 56 · derived.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2325.4948.23No real change since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 25.49 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7740.6525.77No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 40.65 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 44th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2790.2115.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0.211 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
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.
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.
RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.72029.72▼ Worsened since 2013
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 29.72 · Clean cooking policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 80.69; higher is better.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8590.3124.85No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 90.31 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 011.410Moved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 11.41 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 031.520Moved since 2015
Papua New Guinea: 31.52 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.4920.077Moved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0.492 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58519.242.585No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 19.24 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8521.1412.85No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 21.14 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.510.5649.5No real change since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 10.56 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2733.6924.273No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 3.692 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.2113.049Moved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0.211 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5250525No earlier reading
Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.0050.144Moved since 2014
Papua New Guinea: 0.005 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
No current reading for Papua New Guinea
Operating Wind Power Capacity, Primary Schools with Electricity and World Energy Trilemma Index. 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
Energy among Papua New Guinea’s 15 topics
Energy is Papua New Guinea’s 5th 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 energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Papua New Guinea can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand11th3/3 keysHighest in Melanesia
Fiji=42nd2/3 keysThis page
Papua New Guinea=95th2/3 keys
Positions out of 165 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.
07Questions
Papua New Guinea on energy: 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 energy?
Papua New Guinea is placed joint 95th of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity and Renewable Share of Electricity Generation). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Papua New Guinea?
516.07 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Papua New Guinea?
23.68 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Papua New Guinea compare with Indonesia on energy?
Indonesia is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Papua New Guinea joint 95th.
How have Papua New Guinea’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity rose from 398.16 in 2000 to 516.07 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation fell from 42.4 in 2000 to 23.68 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Papua New Guinea?
No current reading is published for Papua New Guinea on Operating Wind Power Capacity, Primary Schools with Electricity and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy 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 energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 7 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
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Papua New Guinea: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/papua-new-guinea/energy