Homelessness in Papua New Guinea Homelessness in Papua New Guinea Homelessness in Papua New Guinea is a significant issue in Port Moresby, the nation's capital city. It is estimated that the homeless population in the nation's capital includes over 5,000 homeless children. The government and charities working in the region state that migration from rural to urban areas are a leading cause for the rise in homelessness. One study on working street children in Papua New Guinea surveyed 324 children, of which seven percent were currently living on the street, but overall, 51% had been living on the street at one point in the past.
Geography of Papua New Guinea divides the island of New Guinea. Across the 820 km (509 mi) border, the western half of New Guinea is officially known as Papua province, governed by Indonesia. Papua New Guinea's border with Indonesia is not straight; the border loops slightly to the west in the south-central part of New Guinea. Papua New Guinea's Western Province contains that loop. There are maritime borders with Australia to the south and Solomon Islands to the southeast. Papua New Guinea has a total area of 462 840 km², of which 452 860 km² is land and 9 980 km² is water. Its coastline