Mining by country

Mining in Palau

Mining in Palau: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 2.1% of merchandise exports (2018). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals2.1%of merchandise exports, 2018.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+1.17above 85% of countries
  • Political stability+1.30above 92% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+0.45above 72% of countries
  • Control of corruption+0.51above 67% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Palau at a glance

First recorded mining
1909. Phosphate mining on Angaur began in 1909 under German administration. Source: USGS
Mining since
1909. Angaur phosphate, 1909 to 1955. Source: USGS

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Palau

What the ground holds. phosphate (Angaur, mined out); sand and aggregate Source: USGS

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Oceania

AustraliaPapua New GuineaNew ZealandNew CaledoniaNauruSolomon IslandsCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaKiribati

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.