Autonomous Region of Bougainville | |
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Flag | |
Motto: Peace, Unity, Prosperity | |
Anthem: My Bougainville[1] | |
Capital and largest city | Buka 6.3754° S, 155.3807° E |
Official languages | English, Tok Pisin |
Other languages | Tok Pisin North Bougainville languages South Bougainville languages |
Demonym(s) | Bougainvillean |
Government | Autonomous Region |
• President | Ishmael Toroama |
• Vice-President | Patrick Nisira |
Legislature | House of Representatives |
Establishment | |
• Autonomy | 25 June 2002 |
• Voted independence | 7 December 2019 |
Area | |
• Total | 9,384 km2 (3,623 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2011 estimate | 249,358 |
HDI (2018) | 0.580[2] medium |
Currency | Papua New Guinean kina (PGK) |
Time zone | UTC+11 (Bougainville Standard Time) |
Driving side | left |
Calling code | +675 |
Bougainville (/ˈboʊɡənˌvɪl/ BOH-ghən-vil;[3] Tok Pisin: Bogenvil),[4][5] 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.[6]
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.