The Papua New Guinea real estate market is based around two types of land. One is alienated, or ‘fee simple’ land, which is land registered at the PNG Department of Lands’ Land Title Registry.

The second, and largest portion, is customary land, which is owned by the indigenous Papua New Guineans. About 97% of PNG’s land is of this type.

Most new commercially developed housing in PNG is built on alienated land because customary land is considered too risky.

(Source: Doing Business in Papua New Guinea)