Prime Minister James Marape recently announced that the national government will soon introduce a national family planning policy designed to lower Papua New Guinea’s high birth rate by encouraging families to limit childbirth to a maximum of three children.

Prime Minister Marape made the announcement during a tour of the maternity wing at the newly opened Pomio District Hospital, the Dr. Kaven Memorial Hospital, at Palmalmal Station on Friday, 6 November 2026.

He stated that the policy intends to curtail uncontrolled demographic expansion, prevent unplanned pregnancies, and reduce the heavy economic burdens placed on rural households.

“This is to ensure that there is prevention of unplanned pregnancies and births, and families will be encouraged to have no more than three children,” PM Marape said during a short address at the facility.

He added that managing the birth rate is essential for generating a long-term positive economic impact for families and protecting the well-being of mothers throughout the country.

Official findings from the National Statistics Office note that Papua New Guinea's total population has reached approximately 10.18 million people, reflecting an average annual population growth rate of 2.6 percent.

Public experts and statistical data show that at this sustained trajectory, the country’s population expands by more than 180, 000 people annually, placing critical strain on infrastructure, classroom capacities, and health services.

According to PM Marape, the proposed regulatory framework will directly address these systemic challenges while mitigating rural healthcare pressures, such as the long distances pregnant women must travel to access functional maternal healthcare services in rural areas.