Papua New Guinea (population 5,171,548) is a raw land, remarkably untamed and as variegated as swamp and jagged limestone; mud and moss forest; suffocating heat and Highland chill; plumed, pearl-shelled villagers and prosaic hill people; tiny tree kangaroos and enormous Queen Alexandra Birdwing butterflies.

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea has an area of 462,840 sq km. The Capital City is Port Moresby. English, Pidgin and Motu are the official languages; many indigenous languages are also spoken. Religion is 44% Protestant, 22% Catholic and 34% pantheistic beliefs