As of 2021, Russia had natural resources worth an estimated total of $75 trillion, including coal, oil, natural gas, gold, timber, and rare earth metals, among others. According to Statista research, the United States is the second leading country in the world by the value of natural resources, with a total value of natural resources of $45 trillion.
In terms of mineral resources, Iran ranks well among the richest countries in the world.
Following is the list of the top 10 countries in the world in terms of natural resource reserves.
Russia
Russia tops the list of natural resources with diamonds, gold, platinum, palladium, coal, natural gas and oil, as well as iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, titanium, copper, tin, lead and tungsten. In addition to all this, it accounts for about 20% of the world’s wood through its abundant conifers.
Value: 75 trillion dollars
United States of America
The United States is the third largest producer of coal, accounting for 27% of the world’s total resources. Other natural resources of America include crude oil, natural gas, uranium, bauxite, zinc, uranium, copper, silver, nickel and potash, etc. A wide range of geographic areas offer significant opportunities for the use of renewable energy sources, from wind to biodiesel.
Value: 45 trillion dollars
Saudi Arabia
No prizes for guessing Saudi Arabia’s main source of income, but beyond its abundant oil reserves—estimated at 268 billion barrels—the country has natural gas, gold, phosphates and aluminum.
Value: $34.4 trillion
Canada
You can’t keep Canada out of the energy and mining headlines for long with its oil, coal, iron ore, uranium and potash reserves.
Value: 33.2 trillion dollars
Iran
Iran’s major mineral resources are: oil, gas, coal, chrome, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc and sulfur. According to reports, Iran has started exploration efforts to identify new reserves in the large gas field of South Pars.
Value: 27.3 trillion dollars
china
China has significant reserves of oil and natural gas and is the third largest producer of iron ore. Its other major minerals include coal, bauxite, diamonds, gold, lead, mercury and phosphate rock, and it is one of the largest exporters of magnesium. Water should not be overlooked either, as hydroelectric power is one of China’s main sources of energy.
Value: 23 trillion dollars
Brazil
Brazil’s mineral reserves are extensive, including gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron, tin and platinum, and the country excels with many lesser-known minerals. Brazil has the first place in niobium and tantalite. It ranks second for kaolin and graphite and ranks third in talc, vermiculite and aluminum reserves.
Value: 21.8 trillion dollars
Australia
Australia’s vast geography ensures a diverse mineral profile with gold, coal, natural gas, oil and iron ore driving much of the country’s industrial activity. Uranium, nickel, bauxite, zinc, zircon, ilmenite and rutile are also important sources.
Value: $19.9 trillion
Iraq
In addition to having some of the world’s largest oil reserves, with five extraordinary fields, Iraq has abundant sulfur, phosphate, and natural gas reserves, and produces electrical energy from liquid fuels, natural gas, and hydropower sources.
Value: $15.9 trillion
Venezuela
Oil and oil-derived goods account for about 95% of Iraq’s total export earnings, which indicates its dependence on commodities and its vulnerability in this era of decarbonization. But its natural resources include diamonds, gold, natural gas, bauxite and iron ore.
Value: $14.3 trillion
