The First Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

SOUTH PACIFIC PAPUA NEW GUINEA 0 MANUS ISLAND ~ KUNDIAWA • Geography: Papua New Guinea comprises the eastern half of the tropical island of New Guinea and 600 neighbouring islands. The rugged mountain- ous interior of the mainland contributes to the dispersal of the country's inhabitants, 89 per cent of whom live in outlying villages. Population: Of Papua New Guinea's population of 3.9 million, 98 per cent are Melanesian, with Polynesians, Micronesians and Chinese rep- resented as minority groups. Language: There are more than 700 indigenous spoken languages in Papua New Guinea, with 97 English and Tokpisin (Pidgin) the two official languages. Religion: Traditional beliefs and rituals remain but the predominant religion is Christianity.