Moving to Papua New Guinea from Swaziland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Swaziland to Papua New Guinea. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Moresby averages 88°F vs 72°F in Lobamba, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Papua New Guinea

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
12.7
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
24.7
PG
14.9

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Swaziland across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SZ
$922
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SZ
15.9
PG
0.6

Swaziland 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

SZ
66.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SZ
0.9t
PG
0.5t

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Swaziland 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

SZ
2.3
PG
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SZ
77.6%
PG
0.1%

Swaziland 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

SZ
37.6%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SZ
$10,600
PG
$4,200

Swaziland 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

SZ
59.7 yrs
PG
69.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SZ
39.6
PG
33.6

Swaziland generally does better on family life, though Papua New Guinea leads in life expectancy.

Data: Swaziland Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lobamba Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
72° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lobamba Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/46°F (21°/8°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/44°F (21°/7°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Lobamba Port Moresby
Jan 77°/59°F (24.9°/14.9°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 76°/58°F (24.5°/14.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 75°/56°F (24.1°/13.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 73°/52°F (22.6°/11.0°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 71°/46°F (21.4°/7.9°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 67°/40°F (19.3°/4.7°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 68°/40°F (19.8°/4.6°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 70°/44°F (21.3°/6.6°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 74°/49°F (23.2°/9.5°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 73°/52°F (22.8°/11.3°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 72°/55°F (22.5°/12.9°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Eswatini Meteorological Service Eswatini Meteorological Service, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Swaziland 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.

Swaziland passport

Swaziland passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

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

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Swaziland

Visa Free
Papua New Guinea passport holders can enter Swaziland without a visa.

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?

Papua New Guinea performs significantly better than Swaziland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.7 in Swaziland.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Swaziland?

Swaziland 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 15.9 in Swaziland. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Swaziland: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 72°F in Lobamba. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Lobamba gets 56.8 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 Swaziland, the official languages are English and Swazi.

Share this

At a Glance

SZ PG
Population 1,121,761 9,593,498
Currency Swazi Lilangeni (SZL) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages English, Swazi English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +268 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 000