Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Flag of Bougainville
Flag
Motto: Peace, Unity, Prosperity
Anthem: My Bougainville
6°0′S 155°0′E / 6.000°S 155.000°E / -6.000; 155.000
Capital
and largest city
Buka
6.3754° S, 155.3807° E
Official languagesEnglish, Tok Pisin
Other languagesTok Pisin
North Bougainville languages
South Bougainville languages
Demonym(s)Bougainvillean
GovernmentAutonomous Region
• President
Ishmael Toroama
Patrick Nisira
LegislatureHouse of Representatives
Establishment
• Autonomy
25 June 2002
7 December 2019
Area
• Total
9,384 km2 (3,623 sq mi)
Population
• 2011 estimate
249,358
HDI (2018)Increase 0.580
medium
CurrencyPapua New Guinean kina (PGK)
Time zoneUTC+11 (Bougainville Standard Time)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+675

Bougainville (/ˈboʊɡənˌvɪl/ BOH-ghən-vil; Tok Pisin: Bogenvil), officially the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island, while the region also includes Buka Island and a number of outlying islands and atolls.

The interim capital is Buka.

In 2011, the region had an estimated population of 250,000 people.

In late 2019, an independence referendum was held with 98.31% voting for independence rather than continued autonomy within Papua New Guinea. Now the results have to be ratified. In March 2025, the Bougainville Independence Leaders Consultation Forum recommended 1 September 2027 as the date of independence.

References

  1. ↑ "AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE : Bougainville Flag, Emblem and Anthem (Protection) Bill 2018" (PDF). Abg.gov.pg. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  3. ↑ "Bougainville: a vote for independence". The World. ABC News. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "Bogenvil". Tok Pisin English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "K20 milien bilong Bogenvil referendem". Loop PNG. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. ↑ The Report: Papua New Guinea 2016. Oxford Business Group. 2016-09-19. ISBN 978-1-910068-64-9.
  7. ↑ "Bougainville sets 2027 deadline for independence from Papua New Guinea". France 24. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  8. ↑ "PNG, B'ville agree on latter's independence". Post Courier. 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  9. ↑ Mckenna, Kylie; Ariku, Emelda (19 November 2021). "Bougainville independence: recalling promises of international help". The Interpreter. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Waide, Scott (12 March 2025). "Bougainville Leaders Forum recommends September 2027 for independence". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 March 2025.