Mount Wilhelm (Papua New Guinea)

Papua New Guinea

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for Papua New Guinea
Published: 2026

Region: Oceania
Capital: Port Moresby
Currency: Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Density: 20 / km²

WRI Score 2026

54.31

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 153rd
In Oceania: 15th
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Top rate 30%· KPMG / EY
40.6
Above-average top marginal rate.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 20 / km²· UN WPP
100.0
Sparsely populated, well below global norms.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $2,560· IMF WEO 2026
7.2
Among the lowest per-capita output levels on this list.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 65 years· WHO / UN
20.8
Among the shortest average lifespans on this list.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 0.01 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
1.0
Minimal recorded inbound tourism.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 2.5%· ILO / SECO
97.8
Among the lowest unemployment rates globally.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 0.4% of GDP· SIPRI
100.0
Minimal defence spending relative to output.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
29.4
Among the weakest safety and rule-of-law composites on this list.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
96.0
Among the highest ideological-neutrality scores on this list.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Papua New Guinea holds 153rd of 211 with a WRI Score of 54.31 — ranks well down the field. The score is driven by near-perfect population density (100) and military posture (100), with tourism and lifestyle appeal standing out as its clearest structural constraint.