It has a population of 237,016 (2010 census) people and is 29,998 square kilometres (11,582 sq mi) in size.

On 9 October 2007, the Central Province government announced plans to build a new provincial capital city at Bautama, which lies within Central Province near Port Moresby,[2] although there has been little progress in constructing it.

[3] Whereas Tok Pisin is the main lingua franca in all Papua New Guinean towns, in part of the southern mainland coastal area centred on Central Province, Hiri Motu is a stronger lingua franca (but not in Port Moresby).

[4][5] The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1976 to 1995.

Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.