🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea (Oceania)

Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended

More than 800 languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea, and a highlands sing-sing — hundreds of clans in full ceremonial dress — is unlike anything else on earth. The diving in Milne Bay is barely touched. This is expedition travel, full stop: the murder rate is severe and independent wandering is unwise, so go with operators who know the ground. Homosexuality is illegal — LGBT+ travellers should pass.

Homicide

Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.

64.3(worst)
0.0(best)

Papua New Guinea: 10.4

Ranked 30th in the world for the highest homicide rate.

An estimated 10.41 homicides per 100,000 people — a high rate by any standard. The 2021 estimate is the freshest figure that exists.

Higher than 80% of the 230 countries and territories measured.

Source: WHO Global Health Observatory homicide estimates · published 2024

Peace

How peaceful the country is — lower is better.

3.4(worst)
1.0(best)

Papua New Guinea: 2.2

Ranked 48th least peaceful country in the world.

More peaceful than 29% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.230.

Down 9 places since 2024.

Source: Global Peace Index 2025, Institute for Economics & Peace · published June 2025

Freedom

Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.

2.5(worst)
9.3(best)

Papua New Guinea: 7.0

Ranked 76th freest country in the world.

Freer than 57% of the 165 countries measured — 7.07 out of 10.

Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 7.78; doing business and owning property, 6.09.

Source: Human Freedom Index 2025, Cato Institute / Fraser Institute · published December 2025

LGBT

LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.

0.0(worst)
9.3(best)

Papua New Guinea: Illegal

Ranked 55th least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.

Homosexuality is criminalised here, with a maximum penalty of fourteen years imprisonment.

No public-opinion data is available for this country.

Source: Human Dignity Trust, Map of Criminalisation · published 2026 (live map)