The Mud Men at Asaro are known for their traditional dance. Agriculture is the largest segment of the economy and consists mostly of subsistence farming of sweet potatoes, taro, yams, and bananas. Exports are coffee, copra, palm oil, cocoa beans, and rubber. Timber, tuna, copper, gold, and silver are valuable exports. Manufacturing is limited to small-scale production of foods and beverages, textiles, chemicals, and metal products.
Education is free on the primary and secondary levels.
The two universities are the University of Papua New Guinea at Port Moresby and the University of Technology at Lae. The government is led by the prime minister, who heads the majority party in the single-chamber National Parliament. Papua New Guinea is a member of the Commonwealth. The British monarch, as head of state, is represented by a governor-general. In 1884 Germany and Great Britain set up protectorates in what is now Papua New Guinea.