Moving to Papua New Guinea from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Papua New Guinea, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
258

people born in Japan 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 Japan to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
PG
14.9

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
PG
0.6

Japan 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

JP
12.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
PG
0.5t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
PG
0.1%

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
PG
$4,200

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
PG
33.6

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

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Port Moresby
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Japan 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 Japan

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

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?

Japan 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 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 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 Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP PG
Population 124,214,766 9,593,498
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Japanese English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 000