Papua New Guinea celebrates Independence Day on 16 September, marking independence from Australia in 1975.
The country became independent on 16 September 1975 after a period of Australian administration. The ceremony took place in Port Moresby, where the Papua New Guinean flag was raised and the Australian flag was lowered. Michael Somare became the first prime minister of the independent nation.
The date followed the adoption of Papua New Guinea’s Constitution, which came into force at independence. Celebrations commonly include flag-raising ceremonies, cultural performances, parades, music, and events showcasing the country’s many language groups and traditions.
Papua New Guinea’s path to independence differed from that of nearby Indonesia, which declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945. Papua New Guinea’s modern state emerged from the former Australian-administered territories of Papua and New Guinea.