Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Papua New Guinea instead of Northern Mariana Islands, you would:
Health
live 12.7 years less
In Northern Mariana Islands, the average life expectancy is 79 years (77 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024.
Economy
make 87.3% less money
Northern Mariana Islands has a GDP per capita of $23,786 as of 2022, while in Papua New Guinea, the GDP per capita is $3,020 as of 2025.
Life
have 2.0 times more children
In Northern Mariana Islands, there are approximately 12.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Papua New Guinea, there are 24.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.5 times more likely to die during infancy
In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 12.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, on the other hand, 31.3 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 79.5% less likely to have access to electricity
In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 20% of people on average (65% in urban areas, and 13% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 25.1% less likely to have internet access
In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 25.1% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Papua New Guinea, about 18.8% do as of 2024.
be 46.7% less likely to have access to drinking water
In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Papua New Guinea, 53% of people do as of 2024.
Geography
see 3.5 times more coastline
Northern Mariana Islands has a total of 1,482 km of coastline. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 5,152 km.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022). How we calculate this
Compare further: Northern Mariana Islands vs. Papua New Guinea
MORE COMPARISONS
Papua New Guinea: At a glance
How big is Papua New Guinea compared to Northern Mariana Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.