Moving to Papua New Guinea from Canada

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Canada to Papua New Guinea. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Canada to Papua New Guinea.

Living there in 2020
235

people born in Canada live in Papua New Guinea · UN DESA

Who's moving to Papua New Guinea?

Top countries of origin for Papua New Guinea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CA
2.3
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CA
4.7
PG
14.9

Canada performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CA
25.0
PG
0.6

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CA
8.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
PG
0.5t

Canada generally does better on environment, though Papua New Guinea leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CA
42.6
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
PG
0.1%

Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
5.4%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,800
PG
$4,200

Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CA
83.8 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.4
PG
33.6

Canada performs better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ottawa Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Ottawa Port Moresby
Jan 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada 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.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa on Arrival
Canada passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Canada

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Papua New Guinea passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Canada.

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?

Canada performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Canada?

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 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 Canada, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CA PG
Population 38,232,593 9,593,498
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages English, French English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +675
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911 000