Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea located in Oceania has approximately 800 languages. With the number of the indigenous languages so great in the country, SIL International has been working in the country since 1965. SIL, (initially known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics), is a mission organization specialized in Bible translation and linguistic research. With over 200 Bible translation projects under way, so far New Testament translations into 170 Papua New Guinean languages have been completed.

FELM has been sending workers to Papua New Guinea since 1972 to work for SIL there. The FELM partner in Finland is the Wycliffe Bible Translators. The first Bible translation projects which FELM has been involved with have now been completed. The Bine New Testament was finished in 1994, and the Mauwake one in 1998.

Facts about Papua New Guinea

• Indepedent since 1975
• Population: 6.1 million
• Roman Catholics 22%, Lutherans 16%, Presbyterians, Methodists and members of the London Missionary Society 8%, Anglicans 5%, Evangelical Alliance members 4%, Seventh-Day Adventists 1%, other Protestants 10%, followers of indigenous beliefs 34%
• Gross National Income: $500 per capita
• Adult literacy rate: 57.3%
• Life expectancy: 56.9 years
• HIV positives from 15-49-year-olds: 1.8%