Papua New Guinea is heavily dependent on the development of its natural resources. Its rich mineral deposits make the country a leading world supplier of gold and copper. Mining began on a large scale in the 1970s and rapidly surpassed agriculture as the largest source of export earnings. However, the mining industry is concentrated in a few areas and does not employ many people. Most of the population still depends on subsistence
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: