East New Britain covers a total land area of 15,816 square kilometres (6,107 sq mi), and the province's population was reported as 220,133 in the 2000 census, rising to 328,369 in the 2011 count.

[2] Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 square metres (26 acres).

Tourism continues to be an increasingly important sector of the provincial economy.

[3] The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1977 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.