Moving to Papua New Guinea from China

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from China to Papua New Guinea — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from China 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 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from China to Papua New Guinea, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
87 ↓ 1% vs 2015

people born in China 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

How China and Papua New Guinea stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
PG
14.9

China 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

CN
$1,487
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
PG
0.6

China 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

CN
64.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
PG
0.5t

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
41.4
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
PG
0.1%

China 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

CN
4.7%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
PG
$4,200

China 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

CN
76.1 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
PG
33.6

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

Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Port Moresby
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.

China passport

China passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
China passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting China

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

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?

With 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Papua New Guinea can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in China and Papua New Guinea.

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

China 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 0.5 in China.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to China?

China 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 25.2 in China. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 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 China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN PG
Population 1,410,539,758 9,593,498
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Chinese English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +86 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 000