What city is the capital of Papua New Guinea?

The capital city of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby. It is also the country’s largest city and the administrative center of its National Capital District.

Port Moresby lies on the southwestern coast of the Papuan Peninsula, beside the Gulf of Papua. The city developed as a trading center during the late 19th century and was established as a settlement in 1885. It was named after Admiral Fairfax Moresby, a British naval officer whose son, Captain John Moresby, explored the region.

The city played an important strategic role during World War II. In 1942 and 1943, Port Moresby was a major Allied base and a key Japanese objective because control of it would have threatened sea and air routes between Australia and Southeast Asia. The Japanese advance was stopped in the Kokoda campaign.

Port Moresby is sometimes called “Pom City.” English, Tok Pisin, and Motu are widely used there, reflecting Papua New Guinea’s remarkable linguistic diversity.