Land area: 174,849 sq mi (452,860 sq km); total area: 178,704 sq mi (462,840 sq km)

Population (2006): 5,670,544 (growth rate: 2.2%); birth rate: 29.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 50.0/1000; life expectancy: 65.3; density per sq mi: 32

Capital City: Port Moresby

Monetary unit: Kina

Languages: Tok Pisin (Melanesian Pidgin, the lingua franca), Hiri Motu (in Papua region), English 1–2%; 715 indigenous languages

Ethnicity/race: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the rugged tropical island of New Guinea (which it shares with the Indonesian territory of Irian Jaya) as well as numerous smaller islands and atolls in the Pacific.

The central part of the island rises into a wide ridge of mountains known as the Highlands, a territory that is so densely forested and topographically forbidding that the island's local peoples remained isolated from each other for millennia. The coastline is liberally endowed with spectacular coral reefs, giving the country an international reputation for scuba diving.

The smaller island groups of Papua New Guinea include the Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain, New Ireland and the North Solomons. Some of these islands are volcanic, with dramatic mountain ranges, and all are relatively undeveloped.

It is estimated that more than a thousand different cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. Because of this diversity, many different styles of cultural expression have emerged; each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, architecture and much more.

Most of these different cultural groups have their own language. People typically live in villages that rely on subsistence farming. To balance their diets, they go hunting and collect wild plants (such as yams roots) for food. Those who become skilled at hunting, farming and fishing earn a great deal of respect.

Sea shells are no longer the currency of Papua New Guinea, as they were abolished as currency in 1933. However, this heritage is still present in local customs; in some cultures, to get a bride, a groom must bring a certain number of golden-edged clam shells as a brideprice. In other regions, brideprice is paid in lengths of shell bead money, pigs, cassowaries and cash.

People of the highlands engage in colorful local rituals that are called "sing sings". They paint themselves, and dress up with feathers, pearls and animal skins to represent birds, trees or mountain spirits. Sometimes an important event, such as a legendary battle, is enacted at such a musical festival.

Papua New Guinea stilt house is a unique architecture constructed by Motuans, a native inhabitant in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a country with high mountains, forests, lowlands, swamps and coral beaches. The mountainous part of the country is called the Highlands and the low land part which meets the sea is called the Coastal region.

The Motuans live in villages along the southern coastal area of Papua New Guinea . They live in houses built on stilts over the sea. Even today they still like to build their houses over the sea. The stilt houses can last from 20 to 30 years. This will count on the sort of lumber used for the posts, and hence the type of tree they choose is of great importance. The Motuans do not go into the forest to chop any big trees down. They have to chop the trees that can resist erosion and propulsion of waves.