Moving to Papua New Guinea from Ireland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to Papua New Guinea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ireland to Papua New Guinea. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ireland to Papua New Guinea, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
41 ↓ 2% vs 2015

people born in Ireland 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
PG
14.9

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
PG
0.6

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland 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

IE
13.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
PG
0.5t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
PG
0.1%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
PG
$4,200

Ireland 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

IE
81.7 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
PG
33.6

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

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Port Moresby
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ireland 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 Ireland

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Papua New Guinea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

Ireland 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 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Ireland?

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 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 Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE PG
Population 5,275,004 9,593,498
Currency Euro (€) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages English, Irish English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +353 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 000