Moving to Papua New Guinea from Afghanistan

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 67°F in Kabul, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Papua New Guinea compared to Afghanistan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AF
4.0
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AF
24.1
PG
14.9

Afghanistan generally does better on safety, though Papua New Guinea leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AF
$330
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AF
2.5
PG
0.6

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AF
143.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AF
0.3t
PG
0.5t

Afghanistan generally does better on environment, though Papua New Guinea leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AF
0.1
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AF
54.8%
PG
0.1%

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AF
14.4%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AF
$2,000
PG
$4,200

Papua New Guinea generally does better on employment & economy, though Afghanistan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AF
53.6 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AF
104.9
PG
33.6

Papua New Guinea generally does better on family life, though Afghanistan leads in education spending.

Data: Afghanistan Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kabul Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/56°F (31°/13°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Kabul Port Moresby
Jan 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea. To live, work, or study long-term in Papua New Guinea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Papua New Guinea's immigration authority.

Afghanistan passport

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Required
Afghanistan passport holders need a visa to enter Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Afghanistan

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Papua New Guinea?

Connectivity is usually fine (Papua New Guinea: 0.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Papua New Guinea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

Afghanistan generally does better on safety, though Papua New Guinea leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.0 in Afghanistan.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Afghanistan?

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 2.5 in Afghanistan. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Afghanistan: 41).

What's the weather like in Papua New Guinea compared to Afghanistan?

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 67°F in Kabul. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kabul gets 12.3 in.

What language do they speak in Papua New Guinea?

The official languages in Papua New Guinea are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. In Afghanistan, the official languages are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen.

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At a Glance

AF PG
Population 38,346,720 9,593,498
Currency Afghan Afghani (AFN) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Dari, Pashto, Turkmen English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +93 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 000