Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Northern Mariana Islands instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 12.7 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

make 7.9 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $3,020 as of 2025, while in Northern Mariana Islands, the GDP per capita is $23,786 as of 2022.

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Life

be 60.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 31.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, on the other hand, 12.5 children do as of 2022.

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have 50.1% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 24.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, there are 12.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 4.9 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 20% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 13% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 33.4% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 18.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, about 25.1% do as of 2021.

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be 87.6% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 53% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, 100% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 71.2% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 1,482 km.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Papua New Guinea vs. Northern Mariana Islands

Cost of Living Comparison · 6 categories - 2026 data
Northern Mariana Islands is 0.1% cheaper than Papua New Guinea overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Papua New Guinea is about 998 times bigger than Northern Mariana Islands.
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Moving from Papua New Guinea to Northern Mariana Islands · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Northern Mariana Islands: At a glance

Northern Mariana Islands (sometimes abbreviated CNMI) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 464 sq km. Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
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How big is Northern Mariana Islands compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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