Papua New Guinea
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 70% plant-based · 65.3 yr life expectancy · UHC 32/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 226 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (226/100k) leads, but infectious disease, very difficult terrain, and one of the region's weakest health systems (UHC ~32) constrain the 65-year life expectancy more than diet. The traditional root-crop, sago, and vegetable diet remains largely plant-based.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Expanding basic healthcare access across remote terrain is the decisive lever here.
- Protect the traditional root-crop diet against imported processed foods in towns.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 226 CVD deaths per 100k · 70% plant-based diet