Nomane: Papua New Guinea’s debt crisis deepens

Unwanted births and fertility in Papua New Guinea

According to the recent PNG National Census, the country’s population is around 10 million people. Four million are under the age of 18. Though the accuracy of the census figures is debatable, the ongoing concerns about a youth bulge are undeniable. PNG’s National Statistician John Igitoi described the growing youth population as “scary” and the birth rate is now seen as a threat to the country.  Every year, PNG welcomes over 200,000 births. One…

Nomane: Papua New Guinea’s debt crisis deepens

The Marape government’s fiscal management since 2019 is coming under fire from political leaders, with concerns mounting over rising debt levels, persistent budget deficits, and poor outcomes on public spending. According to Final Budget Outcome (FBO) and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) reports, Papua New Guinea’s public debt has more than doubled over the past six years—surpassing K65 billion in 2025, well above the 35 percent debt…