Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a diverse administrative structure designed to support local governance, public services and community development across its mainland, islands and autonomous region. One of the most important parts of this structure is the Local-Level Government (LLG).

LLGs are the local government areas below the district level. They help organize community administration and the delivery of services such as local infrastructure, sanitation, markets, community facilities and development programs.

Numbered List of Local-Level Government (LLG) Areas in Papua New Guinea

1. Central Province

1. Amazon Bay Rural
2. Aroma Rural
3. Cloudy Bay Rural
4. Rigo Central Rural
5. Rigo Coastal Rural
6. Rigo Inland Rural
7. Guari Rural
8. Tapini Rural
9. Woitape Rural
10. Kairuku Rural
11. Mekeo Kuni Rural
12. Hiri Rural
13. Koiari Rural
14. Vanapa Brown Rural

2. East New Britain Province

15. Bitapaka Rural
16. Duke of York Rural
17. Kokopo-Vunamami Urban
18. Raluana Rural
19. Balanataman Rural
20. Kombiu Rural
21. Rabaul Urban
22. Watom Island Rural
23. Central Gazelle Rural
24. Inland Baining Rural
25. Lassul Baining Rural
26. Livuan-Reimber Rural
27. Toma-Vunadidir Rural
28. Central-Inland Pomio Rural
29. East Pomio Rural
30. Melkoi Rural
31. Sinivit Rural
32. West Pomio-Mamusi Rural

3. Gulf Province

33. Central Kerema Rural
34. East Kerema Rural
35. Kaintiba Rural
36. Kerema Urban
37. Kotidanga Rural
38. Lakekamu-Tauri Rural
39. Baimuru Rural
40. East Kikori Rural
41. Ihu Rural
42. West Kikori Rural

4. Madang Province

43. Ambenob Rural
44. Madang Urban
45. Transgogol Rural
46. Almami Rural
47. Iabu Rural
48. Yawar Rural
49. Arabaka Rural
50. Josephstaal Rural
51. Simbai Rural
52. Astrolabe Bay Rural
53. Naho Rawa Rural
54. Nayudo Rural
55. Saidor Rural
56. Karkar Rural
57. Sumgilbar Rural
58. Bundi Rural
59. Usino Rural

5. Manus Province

60. Aua-Wuvulu Rural
61. Balopa Rural
62. Bisikani-Soparibeu Kabin Rural
63. Lelemadih-Bupi Chupei Rural
64. Lorengau Urban
65. Los Negros Rural
66. Nali Sopat-Penabu Rural
67. Nigoherm Rural
68. Pobuma Rural
69. Pomutu-Kurti-Andra Rural
70. Rapatona Rural
71. Tetidu Rural

6. Milne Bay Province

72. Alotau Urban
73. Daga Rural
74. Huhu Rural
75. Makamaka Rural
76. Maramatana Rural
77. Suau Rural
78. Weraura Rural
79. Goodenough Island Rural
80. Kiriwina Rural
81. Bwanabwana Rural
82. Louisade Rural
83. Murua Rural
84. Yalevamba Rural
85. Dobu Rural
86. Duau Rural
87. West Ferguson

7. New Ireland Province

88. Kavieng Urban
89. Lavongai Rural
90. Murat Rural
91. Tikana Rural
92. Konoagil Rural
93. Namatanai Rural
94. Nimamar Rural
95. Sentral Niu Ailan Rural
96. Tanir Rural

8. Northern (Oro) Province

97. Higaturu Rural
98. Kira Rural
99. Kokoda Rural
100. Tamata Rural
101. Afore Rural
102. Cape Nelson Rural
103. Oro Bay Rural
104. Popondetta Urban

9. Southern Highlands Province

105. East Pangia Rural
106. Ialibu Urban
107. Kewabi Rural
108. Wiru Rural
109. Lake Kutubu Rural
110. Mount Bosavi Rural
111. Nembi Plateau Rural
112. Nipa Rural
113. Poroma Rural
114. Karints Rural
115. Lai Valley Rural
116. Mendi Urban
117. Upper Mendi Rural
118. Aialibu Basin Rural
119. Imbongu Rural
120. Lower Mendi Rural
121. Erave Rural
122. Kagua Rural
123. Kuare Rural

10. West New Britain Province

124. Bali-Witu Rural
125. Bialla Rural
126. Kimbe Urban
127. Talasea Rural
128. Gasmata Rural
129. Gloucester Rural
130. Kandrian Coastal Rural
131. Kandrian Inland Rural
132. Kove-Kaliai Rural
133. Hoskins Rural
134. Mosa Rural
135. Central Nakanai

11. Western Highlands Province

136. Muglamp Rural
137. Kotna Rural
138. Mount Giluwe Rural
139. Nebilyer Rural
140. Mount Hagen Rural
141. Mount Hagen Urban
142. Baiyer Rural
143. Lumusa Rural
144. Mul Rural

This guide explains Papua New Guinea’s administrative structure and provides a province-by-province directory of Local-Level Governments, with links to official government sources for checking the latest names and classifications.

Papua New Guinea at a glance

What is a Local-Level Government in Papua New Guinea?

A Local-Level Government, commonly abbreviated as LLG, is an administrative area within a district. Depending on the location, an LLG may be classified as rural or urban.

Rural LLGs generally cover villages and communities spread across larger geographical areas. Urban LLGs administer designated towns and urban centres.

The administrative hierarchy can be summarized as follows:

Papua New Guinea → Province or province-level division → District → LLG → Ward

Wards are smaller local areas within LLGs. Villages and communities may be located within wards, but the exact arrangements vary by location.

The four regions of Papua New Guinea

For administrative and geographical reference, Papua New Guinea is commonly grouped into four broad regions.

1. Southern Region

The Southern Region includes Central Province, Gulf Province, Milne Bay Province, Northern (Oro) Province, Western Province, Southern Highlands Province and the National Capital District.

Examples of LLG names found in official administrative records include:

• Central Province: Amazon Bay, Aroma Coast, Cloudy Bay, Guari, Tapini, Woitape, Hiri, Koiari, Mekeo, Kuni and Rigo Central.
• Gulf Province: Central Kerema Rural, East Kerema Rural, Kaintiba Rural, Kerema Urban, Kotidanga Rural, Lakekamu-Tauri Rural, Baimuru Rural, East Kikori Rural, Ihu Rural and West Kikori Rural.
• Milne Bay Province: Alotau Urban, Daga Rural, Huhu Rural, Makamaka Rural, Maramatana Rural, Suau Rural, Weraura Rural, Goodenough Island Rural, Kiriwina Rural, Bwanabwana Rural, Louisade Rural, Murua Rural, Yalevamba Rural, Dobu Rural, Duau Rural and West Ferguson.
• Western Province: Kiunga Rural, Kiunga Urban, Ningerum Rural, Olsobip Rural, Star Mountain Rural, Balimo Rural, Bamu Rural, Gogodala Rural, Lake Murray Rural, Nomad Rural, Daru Urban, Kiwai Rural, Morehead Rural and Oriomo-Bituri Rural.

2. Highlands Region

The Highlands Region includes Chimbu (Simbu), Eastern Highlands, Enga, Hela, Jiwaka, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands.

Examples of LLG names in the region include:

• Western Highlands: Muglamp Rural, Kotna Rural, Mount Giluwe Rural, Nebilyer Rural, Mount Hagen Rural, Mount Hagen Urban, Baiyer Rural, Lumusa Rural and Mul Rural.
• Jiwaka: North Waghi Rural, Nondugl Rural, Jimi Rural, Kol Rural, Anglimp Rural and South Waghi Rural.
• Hela: Hayapuga Rural, Tagali Rural, Tari Urban, Tebi Rural, Hulia Rural, Komo Rural, Margarima Rural, Awi-Pori Rural, Lake Kopiago Rural, North Koroba Rural, South Koroba Rural, Lower Wage Rural and Beneria Rural.
• Enga: Maip-Mulitaka Rural, Paiela-Hewa Rural, Porgera Rural, Wapenamanda Rural, Tsak Rural, Kandep Rural, Wage Rural, Ambum Rural, Kompiam Rural, Wapi (Uangis) Rural, Maramuni Rural, Wabag Rural, Wabag Urban and Pilikambi Rural.

3. Momase Region

The Momase Region consists of East Sepik, Madang, Morobe and West Sepik (Sandaun).

Examples of LLG names in the region include:

• East Sepik: Wewak Urban and rural LLGs across the districts of Wewak, Angoram, Maprik and Ambunti-Dreikikir, as well as the LLGs associated with Wosera Gawi and Yangoru Saussia.
• Madang: Bogia, Madang, Middle Ramu, Rai Coast, Sumkar and Usino-Bundi have their own LLG structures.
• Morobe: LLGs are administered within the districts of Bulolo, Finschhafen, Huon Gulf, Kabwum, Lae, Markham, Menyamya, Nawae, Tewai-Siassi and Wau-Waria.
• West Sepik: LLGs are administered within Aitape-Lumi, Nuku, Telefomin and Vanimo-Green River.

4. New Guinea Islands Region

The New Guinea Islands Region includes East New Britain, Manus, New Ireland, West New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Examples of LLG names include:

• East New Britain: Bitapaka Rural, Duke of York Rural, Kokopo-Vunamami Urban, Raluana Rural, Balanataman Rural, Kombiu Rural, Rabaul Urban, Watom Island Rural, Central Gazelle Rural, Inland Baining Rural, Lassul Baining Rural, Livuan-Reimber Rural, Toma-Vunadidir Rural, Central-Inland Pomio Rural, East Pomio Rural, Melkoi Rural, Sinivit Rural and West Pomio-Mamusi Rural.
• Milne Bay’s island neighbours and other island provinces: the LLG structures are organized around their respective districts and island communities.
• Bougainville: local government areas are organized under the autonomous region’s administrative arrangements; consult the Autonomous Bougainville Government for its current official directory.

Why are LLGs important?

LLGs are an important part of public administration because they connect government structures with local communities. Their responsibilities and practical capacity vary, but local government areas are relevant to:

• Community development and local planning
• Public infrastructure and local facilities
• Markets and community economic activity
• Local service delivery and administration
• Ward-level representation and consultation
• Census organization and the collection of local demographic information

How to find an LLG in a particular province

To identify a specific LLG, follow these steps:

1. Identify the province or province-level division.
2. Find the district in which the LLG is administered.

How many LLGs are there in Papua New Guinea?

The National Statistical Office’s 2024 Census reports 369 Local-Level Governments. Administrative totals can vary between publications depending on the date and the administrative classification being reported.

What is the difference between an LLG and a district?

A district is a larger administrative area containing one or more LLGs. An LLG is a lower-level administrative area that may contain multiple wards.

Are all LLGs rural?

No. Papua New Guinea has both rural and urban LLGs. Examples include Kerema Urban, Wabag Urban, Mount Hagen Urban, Rabaul Urban and Kokopo-Vunamami Urban.

Local-Level Governments are an essential part of Papua New Guinea’s administrative structure. They help organize local communities within districts and provinces and provide a framework for public administration, development planning and census reporting.