Which country is getting the most out of their natural resources?
This article was written by Sam Parker and originally published by Visual Capitalist.
Natural resources are the backbone of modern manufacturing, necessary to produce everything around us.
According to 2021 data from Statista, 10 countries dominate the global natural resource landscape, each holding vast reserves critical for various industries.
Russia’s $75 Trillion in Natural Resources
Russia leads the pack with natural resources valued at $75 trillion, largely consisting of coal, natural gas, oil, and rare earth metals. At the end of 2018, Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment valued the country’s mineral reserves at approximately $1.44 trillion.
In terms of global share, Russia is unmatched in natural gas, holding the world’s largest proven reserves at 1.32 quadrillion cubic feet as of 2020—nearly 20% of the global total. Russia also ranks as a gold powerhouse.
Other Resource Giants
The United States ranks second, with an estimated $45 trillion in natural resources, including coal, timber, natural gas, and valuable metals like gold.
| Country | Main Natural Resources | Value (in trillion USD) |
|---|---|---|
 Russia |
Coal, natural gas, oil, gold, timber, rare earth metals | 75 |
 U.S. |
Coal, timber, natural gas, gold, copper | 45 |
 Saudi Arabia |
Oil, timber | 34 |
 Canada |
Oil, uranium, timber, natural gas, phosphate | 33 |
 Iran |
Oil, natural gas | 27 |
 China |
Coal, rare earth metals, timber | 23 |
 Brazil |
Gold, uranium, iron, timber, oil | 22 |
 Australia |
Coal, timber, copper, iron ore, gold, uranium | 20 |
 Iraq |
Oil, phosphate rock | 16 |
 Venezuela |
Iron, natural gas, oil | 14 |
In Saudi Arabia and Canada, oil wealth drives natural resources, placing these countries third and fourth on the list. Saudi Arabia, with its vast oil fields, has been a leader in global energy markets. Canada, on the other hand, also benefits from substantial uranium deposits and is home to some of the world’s largest lumber companies.
Further down the list, China has vast coal reserves, positioning it as the top producer of the fuel.
Mineral-rich Brazil and Australia are leading producers of metals like iron ore, while Australia is also a top exporter of coal.
