All Countries
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
East New Britain Province · Papua New Guinea
Rabaul is a small city in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea with a population of 8,074. Elevation: 39 ft (12 m). Average temperature: 79°F (26°C).
Data updated June 2026
Discover Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.
About Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, on the island of New Britain. It lies about 600 km (370 mi) to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash from a volcanic eruption in its harbor. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air, and the subsequent rain of ash caused 80% of the buildings in Rabaul to collapse. After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) away. Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity, because it is on the edge of the Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large pyroclastic shield volcano.
People
Climate
| Population | 8,074 |
| Population Density | 25 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Coordinates | -4.2004°, 152.1630° |
| Timezone | Pacific/Port_Moresby |
| Country | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea |
| State / Province | East New Britain Province |
| Average Temperature | 79°F (26°C) |
| January Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 95.8 inches (2,434 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 inches (0 cm) |
About Rabaul
Rabaul is a small city in Papua New Guinea (East New Britain Province) with a population of 8,074. The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet (12 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 79°F (26°C). Temperatures range from 79°F in January to 78°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 95.8 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Port_Moresby.
Climate in Rabaul
Rabaul has an average annual temperature of 27.1°C (81°F). The hottest month is Jan (27.6°C), the coldest is Jul (26.4°C). Average annual precipitation is 2391 mm.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 79.2°F |
| 47% above Papua New Guinea avg | |
| January Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 162 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 317.6 sq mi (822.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 25/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -4.2004°N, 152.1630°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Port_Moresby |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
17 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 10.0 m (33 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1971 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 10.0 m | — | 139 km |
| 2000 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 3.0 m | 2 | 29 km |
| 1994 | PAPUA NEW GUINEA | Astronomical | 3.0 m | 4 | 7 km |
| 1937 | RABAUL | Astronomical | 2.5 m | 507 | 9 km |
| 1985 | NEW IRELAND | Eruption + Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 78 km |
| 2015 | NEW BRITAIN | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 144 km |
| 2015 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.5 m | — | 74 km |
| 1994 | RABAUL HARBOR | Eruption | 0.3 m | — | 30 km |
| 1941 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 4 | 11 km |
| 1967 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 44 km |
| 2017 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 0.0 m | — | 133 km |
| 1955 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 131 km |
| 1916 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 74 km |
| 1900 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 29 km |
| 1899 | EAST COAST, NEW IRELAND | Earthquake | — | — | 135 km |
| 1878 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | 1 | 11 km |
| 1768 | CAPE SAINT GEORGE, NEW IRELAND | Earthquake | — | — | 101 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rabaul (9 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Rabaul | Pyroclastic shield | 688 m (2,257 ft) | 2014 | 9 km |
| Lihir | Compound | 700 m (2,297 ft) | Unknown | 131 km |
| Lolobau | Caldera | 858 m (2,815 ft) | 1912 | 137 km |
| Ambitle | Stratovolcano | 450 m (1,476 ft) | -350 | 166 km |
| Hargy | Stratovolcano | 1,148 m (3,766 ft) | 950 | 172 km |
| Sulu Range | Stratovolcano(es) | 610 m (2,001 ft) | Unknown | 198 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 79°F (26°C) | 11.3 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 10.7 in | |
| March | 79°F (26°C) | 12.8 in | Wettest |
| April | 79°F (26°C) | 9.7 in | |
| May | 80°F (26°C) | 5.9 in | |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 5.2 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | Coldest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 4.8 in | Driest |
| October | 80°F (26°C) | 5.6 in | |
| November | 80°F (27°C) | 7.1 in | Warmest |
| December | 79°F (26°C) | 12.1 in |
Rabaul has a seasonal temperature swing of 2°F / from 78°F in July to 80°F in November. Total annual precipitation is 95.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (12.8") and September the driest (4.8").
Colleges & Universities in Rabaul
| Institution | Type | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabaira Vocational Centre | College | — | — |
Schools in Rabaul
17 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matupit Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Ramalmal Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Iatapal Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Rakada Elementary School | — | — | — | — |
| Boisen Secondary School | — | — | — | — |
| Vunalir Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Vunairoto Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Raburua Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Navunaram Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Malaguna Technical Secondary School | — | — | — | — |
| Malaguna Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Pilapila Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Volavolo Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Nonga Elementary School | — | — | — | — |
| Tavui Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Tavuili Primary School | — | — | — | — |
| Rakunai Primary School | — | — | — | — |
Museums in Rabaul
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokopo Museum |
Farmers Markets in Rabaul
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokopo Market | |||||
| Rabaul Market | |||||
| Takubar Market |
Hotels in Rabaul
3 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Monuments in Rabaul
2 monuments within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Rabaul
3 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Bus Stations in Rabaul
1 bus stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Rabaul
1 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Rabaul
1 banks within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Golf Courses in Rabaul
1 golf courses within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Airports Near Rabaul
5 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tokua Airport | RAB | Medium Airport |
| Namatanai Airport | ATN | Small Airport |
| Open Bay Airport | OPB | Small Airport |
| Rakanda Airport | RAA | Small Airport |
| Stockholm Landing Strip | SMP | Small Airport |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Rabaul
6 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Blessed Peter ToRot Basilica | |
| Church of John Wesley | |
| Kabakada United Church | |
| St George | |
| St. Francis Xavier Co-Cathedral | |
| Vunairoto United Church |
Quick Facts
🇵🇬 About Papua New Guinea
Volcanoes Near Rabaul
Public Holidays in Papua New Guinea
11 public holidays this year
Frequently Asked Questions About Rabaul
What is the population of Rabaul?
Rabaul has a population of 8,074 residents and is located in Papua New Guinea. The population density is 25 people per square mile, spread across 317.6 square miles.
What is the weather like in Rabaul?
Rabaul has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winter temperatures average 79°F in January, while summers reach an average of 78°F in July. The area receives 162 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 95.8 inches.