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Art & Music
Local traditions include both Chamorro and Carolinian music and dance. In addition, there are several styles of handcraft arts such as coconut leaf weaving and beading. Painting and woodcarving have been carried over from other cultures as well. For more information, please see Commonwealth Counsel for Arts & Culture.

Cultures and Population
Total number of peoples 69,221 (Census 2000). In 1995, 38% of the population was born in the CNMI. The majority of the total population was born outside of the CNMI. Almost half were born in Asian countries (Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, and Thailand) 30 percent were born in the Philippines alone (CNMI Statistical Yearbook, 2001).

The native cultures include Chamorro and Carolinian. However, significant influences of other Micronesians (Palauan, citizens of FSM – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae), Japanese, Filipino, Korean and Chinese cultures are evident. Additionally, there are Americans, Australians, Thai, Bengali, Russian, and a sprinkling of European peoples within the population.

Languages
CNMI’s primary common language is English. Indigenous languages include Chamorro, Northern and Southern Carolinian, which are closely related to the dialects of other Micronesian peoples residing in the CNMI (Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/). Other languages commonly used include Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Bengali.  

Religion
Namely Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional tribal beliefs and taboos may still be found). However, there are also some Buddhists.