Natural resources, from oil, gas and coal to timber, metals and rare minerals, are the raw foundation of the global economy, and a handful of nations hold a hugely disproportionate share of them. The ranking below reflects each country’s overall natural-resource wealth, combining energy reserves, metals and other commodities. The dollar figures are widely cited estimates and are best read as approximate. Here are the ten countries with the most natural resources in the world.
| Rank | Country | Estimated resource value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | ~$75 trillion |
| 2 | United States | ~$45 trillion |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | ~$34 trillion |
| 4 | Canada | ~$33 trillion |
| 5 | Iran | ~$27 trillion |
| 6 | China | ~$23 trillion |
| 7 | Brazil | ~$22 trillion |
| 8 | Australia | ~$20 trillion |
| 9 | Iraq | ~$16 trillion |
| 10 | Venezuela | ~$14 trillion |
1. Russia
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Russia tops the list by a wide margin, with natural resources valued at roughly $75 trillion. Its sheer size gives it enormous reserves of natural gas, the largest in the world, along with vast oil, coal, gold and timber. Energy exports are the backbone of its economy.
2. United States
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The United States ranks second at about $45 trillion. It holds the world’s largest coal reserves, extensive timber, and major deposits of natural gas, gold and copper, supported by huge tracts of forested land.
3. Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia’s wealth, around $34 trillion, is built overwhelmingly on oil. The kingdom holds some of the largest proven crude reserves on Earth and ranks among the top nations for natural gas, the foundation of its economy.
4. Canada
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Canada follows closely at about $33 trillion, driven largely by its oil sands. It holds the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world, along with major uranium, phosphate and timber resources.
5. Iran
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Iran’s resources are valued near $27 trillion. Sitting on the Persian Gulf, it shares the world’s largest gas field with Qatar and holds roughly a tenth of global oil reserves, making energy its dominant asset.
6. China
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China’s reserves total around $23 trillion. It is especially rich in coal and a wide range of industrial and rare-earth minerals, and newer shale-gas discoveries are adding to its energy base.
7. Brazil
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Brazil’s natural wealth, about $22 trillion, spans gold, iron ore (it is a leading global producer), uranium and one of the world’s largest timber supplies, with significant offshore oil discoveries adding more.
8. Australia
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Australia holds roughly $20 trillion in resources, anchored by iron ore, coal, gold and copper, plus large offshore natural gas. It is one of the world’s leading mineral exporters.
9. Iraq
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Iraq’s wealth, around $16 trillion, rests mainly on oil, with reserves of roughly 115 billion barrels, close to a tenth of the global total, much of it still underdeveloped. The country also holds large phosphate deposits.
10. Venezuela
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Venezuela rounds out the top 10 at about $14 trillion. It holds some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, though much of its heavy crude is costly to extract, alongside notable gas, gold and iron ore.
Explore more global rankings: the largest oil-producing countries, the countries with the largest forest area, and the largest countries in the world.
