PNG youth bulge spurs push for National Compulsory Service Policy

Papua New Guinea’s youth bulge estimated at around 66 percent of the population has been identified as a critical issue that the government must address through proper planning and policy.

In response, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring is advancing the National Compulsory Service Policy, a framework for 2025–2035 now undergoing regional consultations.

This week, the consultation team was in Alotau for the Southern Region discussions.

Consultation Team Leader and Deputy Secretary for Policy and Planning, Michael Kumung, said studies conducted with partners such as the National Research Institute [NRI] confirm that more than 60 percent of Papua New Guinea’s population is aged between 15 and 35 years.

“This is the majority of our population, and it must be addressed with targeted strategies,” Kumung said.

The policy aims to channel the country’s youth into constructive programs that build skills, discipline, and national unity while addressing employment and social challenges.

Research by NRI has estimated Papua New Guinea’s youth population at around 11 million, a figure yet to be verified by recent census data. It was from these findings that the proposal for a National Youth Service Corps was first suggested.

The Department of National Planning and Monitoring is now taking the National Compulsory Service Policy (2025–2035) to regional consultations, engaging stakeholders to gather views and recommendations.

Consultation teams say feedback so far highlights the need for programs to be customized to suit local realities rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

The policy development framework for Papua New Guinea’s proposed National Compulsory Service aims to create opportunities that help young people feel valued, develop skills, and become responsible members of their communities.

The Department of National Planning and Monitoring has already completed regional consultations in the Highlands and Momase, and wrapped up the Southern Region this week in Alotau. The team will next travel to Kokopo to consult with stakeholders in the Islands Region.

The consultations are part of the 2025–2035 National Compulsory Service Policy framework, which seeks to address the country’s large youth population estimated at more than 60 percent of the nation by channeling their potential into productive and nation-building programs.