Measure
Snapshot
Papua New Guinea
Ranked 26 of 26 for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 3.3 out of 100.
Lost 0.4 points (−12% change) in overall score in 2023.
Lost 0.4 points (−12% change) in overall score in 2023.
Papua New Guinea is a minor power in Asia.
The country’s overall score has declined by 0.4 points over the past year.
Papua New Guinea’s strongest measure is resilience, where it places 21st. Its resource-rich economy and relatively conflict-free relationships with its direct neighbours — Indonesia and Australia — contribute to this result.
However, despite lying on the geographic continuum of Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea lacks regional clout and places last for economic capability, military capability, future resources, diplomatic influence, and defence networks.
Papua New Guinea exerts less influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s negative power gap score, which deteriorated further in 2022.
Read more analysis in the Key Findings report. Explore further results in the Scores section.
Bilateral trade, current dollars (2020)
Globally, which countries does Papua New Guinea do most of its trade with?
Which countries in the region rely most on trade with Papua New Guinea?
A country’s weighted average across eight measures of power
Economic size and attributes with the most geopolitical relevance
Conventional military strength
Capacity to deter real or potential threats to state stability
Projected distribution of future economic, military and demographic resources
The capacity to exercise influence and leverage through economic interdependencies
Defence partnerships that act as force multipliers of military capability
The extent and standing of a state’s foreign relations
Ability to shape international public opinion through cultural appeal and interaction