Papua New Guinea (PNG) has several distinctive characteristics in terms of population compared to other Pacific island nations:
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Large Population: PNG has a significantly larger population than most other Pacific island countries. As of recent estimates, its population is over 9 million, making it the most populous country in the Pacific region.
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Diverse Population: PNG is known for its remarkable ethnic diversity, with over 800 indigenous languages spoken and a multitude of cultural groups. This diversity is greater than that found in most other Pacific islands, where populations are often more homogeneous.
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Population Density: While PNG has a large total population, it also has vast areas of rugged terrain, resulting in a relatively low overall population density compared to other smaller Pacific islands that may be more densely populated in urban areas.
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Urbanization: While PNG has urban centers, a significant portion of its population still lives in rural areas. This contrasts with some smaller Pacific island nations that may have a higher proportion of urban residents.
In summary, the major distinctions regarding Papua New Guinea's population include its large population size, high diversity, and overall lower population density compared to many other Pacific islands.