Moving to Papua New Guinea from Norway

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Norway 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 49°F in Oslo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NO
0.6
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NO
1.5
PG
14.9

Norway 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

NO
$9,523
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

NO
51.7
PG
0.6

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

NO
8.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NO
7.2t
PG
0.5t

Norway 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

NO
45.9
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NO
2.0%
PG
0.1%

Norway 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

NO
3.6%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NO
$90,500
PG
$4,200

Norway 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

NO
82.5 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NO
2.3
PG
33.6

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

Data: Norwegian Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Oslo Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/43°F (15°/6°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/51°F (19°/10°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Oslo Port Moresby
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Norway 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.

Norway passport

Norway passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Norway 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 Norway

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

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?

Norway 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 0.6 in Norway.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Norway?

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 51.7 in Norway. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Norway: 87).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 49°F in Oslo. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Oslo gets 30.0 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 Norway, the official languages are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami.

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At a Glance

NO PG
Population 5,553,840 9,593,498
Currency Norwegian Krone (NOK) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +47 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 000