Papua New Guinea is divided into 22 provinces, which form the second tier of the country's three-level administrative structure. Provinces serve as the primary subnational administrative units, positioned between the national government and local-level governments. Each province operates with its own government system that manages regional affairs including health services, education, infrastructure development, and economic planning within their jurisdiction. Provincial governments are responsible for implementing national policies at the regional level while also addressing local needs and priorities. They maintain administrative offices, collect certain revenues, and coordinate with both the national government in Port Moresby and the numerous local-level governments beneath them. This provincial system reflects Papua New Guinea's decentralized governance approach, designed to manage the country's significant geographic and cultural diversity across its mainland and island territories.