Port Moresby : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Port Moresby

Official name

Port Moresby

Other name

Pot Mosbi

Settlement type

City and National Capital District

Country

Papua New Guinea

Province

National Capital District

Established

1873

Government

Governor

Powes Parkop (2007-)

Geography

Total Area

92.6 sq mi (240 km2)

Elevation

114.8 ft (35 m)

Demography

Total Population

307643 (2009)

Density (pop.)

auto/km² (0/sq mi)

Other information

Time zone

AEST (UTC+10)

Main languages

Motu, Tok Pisin, English

Home | City | Port Moresby

Port Moresby (c-eniconˌpɔərt_ˈmɔərzbi), or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea. In 2000 it had a population of 254,158. As of 2009 it has a population of 307,643, giving it an annual growth rate of 2.1% over a nine year period.

The place where the city was founded has been inhabited by the Motu-Koitabu people for centuries. The first European to see it was Captain John Moresby in 1873. It was named in honour of his father Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby.

According to a survey of world cities by the Intelligence Unit of The Economist, Port Moresby is one of the world's least livable cities (ranked 137 of 140 cities rated).

Although Port Moresby is surrounded by Central Province, of which it is also the capital, it is not part of that province, but forms the National Capital District.