Though DRC is not listed in this article but the Democratic Republic of Congo is considered to be one of the richest countries in the world regarding natural resources; its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of U.S. $24 trillion.
Cobalt: DRC Controls 70% of global reserves, making it the world's largest producer.
Coltan (Columbite-Tantalite): Holds 70% of the world's reserves, essential for electronics manufacturing
The rare mineral is used to manufacture electric car batteries, mobile phones and other electronic devices, no wonder the country is enmeshed in conflict
As for Nigeria, Nigeria's solid minerals wealth is valued at $750bn, according to Alake. Minister of Solid Minerals Development
Natural resources are commodities, or the raw inputs used to manufacture everything from intermediate goods to finished products.
Renewable resources are those whose supply is not diminished by use, including solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric energy. Nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels and mined metals are found in finite reserves depleted by extraction.
Natural resources are found throughout the world. Investors can access natural resource investments through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and pure-play companies.
Here are the 10 countries with the most valuable natural resource reserves by total estimated value as of 2021, according to Statista.
1. Russia Russia's natural resources reserves are worth $75 trillion by Statista's estimate.
This amount incorporates, among other things, coal, oil, natural gas, gold, timber, and rare earth metals. Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment estimated the total value of the country's mineral reserves at the end of 2018 to equal $1.44 trillion.
Russia holds the world's largest proved natural gas reserves at 1.32 quadrillion cubic feet, accounting for nearly 20% of the global total as of 2020. Russia also has the second largest gold reserves at 6,800 tons, or more than 13% of global total as of 2023.
Russia was the world's third-largest crude oil producer at 12% of global supply in 2020. Russsia's proved oil reserves were the world's sixth largest at an estimated 107.8 billion barrels. In industrial diamonds, the country accounted for 37% of 2022 global production and 46% of the commodity's reserves
2. United States The estimated value of natural resources in the U. S. is $45 trillion, almost 90% of which are timber and coal. In fact, the U.S. is the leading producer of coal.
As of 2020, it had the largest proven coal reserves in the world. Other resources include substantial copper, gold, oil, and natural gas deposits. Also making the list are lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, and arable land.
3. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is a small country in the Middle East and is slightly larger than Mexico. Saudi Arabia has $34.4 trillion worth of natural resources—notably oil. The nation has been a leading exporter ever since oil was discovered in 1938.
With 15% of the world's reserves as of 2020, the country's economy depends heavily on its oil exports. Saudi Arabia's other natural resources include copper, feldspar, phosphate, silver, sulfur, tungsten, and zinc.
4. Canada Fourth on the list is Canada. This vast country has an estimated $33.2 trillion worth of natural resources.
It has the third-largest oil deposits after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The commodities that the country owns include industrial minerals, such as gypsum, limestone, rock salt, and potash, as well as energy minerals, such as coal and uranium.
Metals in Canada include copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, and precious metals like gold and silver. Canada is a leading producer of natural gas.
5. Iran Iran's natural resources are worth an estimated $27.3 trillion. In 2021, this country was the fifth-largest crude oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the world's second-largest natural gas producer.
Other natural resources include coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, and sulfur. Arable land, pistachios, saffron, and fruits also contribute to the estimated value.
6. China China has natural resources estimated to be worth $23 trillion. Ninety percent of China's resources are coal and rare earth metals. Timber is another major natural resource found in the country, as is arable land.
Also, due to its natural resource of water, it has the world's greatest hydropower potential. Other resources that China possesses include oil and natural gas, and immense amounts of metals such as gold and aluminum and minerals.
7. Brazil Brazil has natural resources worth $21.8 trillion. including gold, iron, oil, and uranium. In 2021, Brazil was the ninth-largest oil producer in the world.
A 2018 estimate found that 61.9% of its land was forested and 23.5% was permanent pasture. Its mining industry focuses on bauxite, platinum, copper, gold, iron, and tin. Timber is also a valuable natural resource. Brazil has an immense installed capacity of hydroelectric power production.
8. Australia Australia has an estimated $19.9 trillion in natural resources that include coal, timber, copper, iron ore, gold, and uranium.
Australia, which is about 80% the size of the United States, is a large producer of oil and liquified natural gas. Its proved oil reserves measured 2.4 billion barrels at the end of 2021. The country is also the largest net exporter of coal, with 29% of global coal exports. Its other natural resources include alumina, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, and diamonds.
9. Iraq Iraq possesses $15.9 trillion in natural resources.
Its desert terrain holds petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, and sulfur. Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in OPEC. It ranks as the world’s sixthfifthlargest holder of proved crude oil reserves and it depends on the export of crude oil for a major amount of its revenues.
10. Venezuela This South American country has natural resources estimated at $14.3 trillion. They include iron, natural gas, and oil.
In 2023, it had the largest proved oil reserves on the globe, although actual production has fallen as a result of U.S. sanctions. Venezuela also has significant reserves of natural gas. Other natural resources include iron ore, gold, bauxite, hydropower, and diamonds.
Olanrewaju was competing against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena when he suddenly lost consciousness.
Being a Mother is more than a role, it’s a calling and a blessing, a journey of love, sacrifice and relentless devotion. Some days are filled with joy, others with challenges, but through it all, you stand strong.
God has entrusted you with a precious assignment and he sees every effort, every tear, every sacrifice and every victory. Your love is unwavering, your prayers are powerful and your presence is irreplaceable. Through every sleepless night, every whispered prayer, every silent sacrifice made, you are raising generations, shaping destinies and making an impact far beyond what you can see.
Your labour is not in vain. Today, we pray for strength, renewed joy and God’s abundant grace over you.
You are loved and appreciated! Happy Mother’s Day to all the women of impact, love and grace.
Adebisi444: Do you think Iran will stop the proxy war against Israel even after acquiring nukes and do you think Israel will stop responding, defending and attacking any proxy war coming from Iran. So you know what might happen.
I cannot answer that question, both countries are fighting for their own interest and survival in the region
Adebisi444: Don't worry...if Iran mistakenly acquired nuclear weapons..I hope you won't be crying here when nuclear war starts because Iran will stop from nothing to destroy Zionist. You people won't cherish the little peace una have naw
Nuclear weapons have served most effectively as a deterrent, preventing nuclear powers from engaging one another in direct conflict
Iran can never be deceived, and let Israel dismantle its nuclear weapons first
This same Donald trump withdrew US from the 2015 nuclear deal ( the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that was reached Under president Obama, under its terms, Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for lifting of sanctions, Iran was complying until trump came and ruined it
Iran should also learn from Ukraine and other countries US has abandoned, America is no longer a stable and reliable country, you will make a deal with one administration and another president will come and rubbish everything
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s president said Sunday that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, offering Tehran’s first response to a letter President Donald Trump sent to the country’s supreme leader.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s response, delivered via the sultanate of Oman, left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. However, such talks have made no progress since Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.
In the years since, regional tensions have boiled over into attacks at sea and on land. Then came the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which saw Israel target militant group leaders across Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance.” Now, as the U.S. conducts intense airstrikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen, the risk of military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program remains on the table.
“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian said in televised remarks. “They must prove that they can build trust.”
Trump’s letter came as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weapons-grade levels — something only done by atomic-armed nations.
Iran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb.
Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. A report in February, however, by the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium.
Trump also ordered the attack that killed Iran’s top general in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s words are not only justified, they are necessary, Canada has every right to defend its sovereignty, its economy, and its people from reckless Trump and Musk.
Canada is right to fight back, because standing tall in the face of economic aggression is not just defending trade; it’s defending dignity.
Treating your neighbor with contempt and disdain has consequences
Canada is even bigger than US in terms of landmass, and the lunatic wants to annex the country
America elected a failed reality TV host whose show got cancelled and who then had to seek other opportunities.
Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted to the 25% auto tariffs the Trump administration announced on Wednesday, calling them a "direct attack" on his country. Carney said in response, Canada would deliver retaliatory trade actions of its own that would have a "maximum impact in the United States."
He added that the "old relationship" the two countries had "based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over."
Sixteen travelers were brutally killed in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday after being wrongly accused of kidnapping.
The victims, mostly hunters of Hausa origin, were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebration when they were stopped around 1:30 p.m. by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes. The presence of their Dane guns, traditionally used for hunting in Northern Nigeria, was misinterpreted as a security threat. Instead of alerting law enforcement, the vigilantes sounded an alarm that incited panic and violence.
These greedy african leaders should be put inside the boxing ring so they can fight each other directly without plunging the entire country into chaos
You will not hear anything from them when they are in good terms stealing all the resources together, but they are quick to resort to violence and bloodshed using their foot soldiers when they are at loggerheads
The detention of South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has effectively collapsed the 2018 peace deal that ended the country's five-year civil war, his party has said.
An armed convoy led by top security officials, including the defence minister, entered Machar's residence in the capital, Juba, and disarmed his bodyguards late on Wednesday, said the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO).
Machar was detained alongside his wife Angelina Teny, who is the country's interior minister, the party added.
"The arrest and detention of H.E Dr Riek Machar effectively brings the [peace] agreement to a collapse," said SPLM/IO deputy leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino.
The government is yet to comment on Machar's reported house-arrest.
Addressing religious leaders on Wednesday, President Salva Kiir said "he will never return the country to war".
The UN has been warning that South Sudan is on the brink of a return to civil war following an escalation of conflict between Machar and the president that has been building for weeks.
The two leaders agreed in August 2018 to end the civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people. But over the last seven years their relationship has become increasingly strained amid ethnic tensions and sporadic violence.
In a press conference on Thursday, Pierino said Machar's detention had "abrogated" - or breached - the fragile peace deal.
"The prospect for peace and stability in South Sudan has now been put into serious jeopardy," he added.
A similar warning was issued by the UN Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), saying the country's leaders "stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict".
Tension remains high in Juba with a heavy military presence reported around Machar's home.
"There is a high chance of full-scale war but it will be more deadly and more violent because of [the need] for revenge," one resident told the AFP news agency.
But Pierino called on SPLM/IO members and the public to remain calm as diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the situation.
Reath Muoch Tang, chairman of the party's foreign relations committee, said Machar was under house-arrest, but that security officials initially tried to take him away.
"An arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges," Tang said in a statement, calling the action a "blatant violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement".
Unmiss warned that the world's newest nation risked losing the "hard-won gains of the past seven years" if it returned to "a state of war".
"Tonight, the country's leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict," the mission said in a statement on Wednesday.
Violations of the 2018 peace deal "will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region," it added.
The British and US embassies have scaled down their diplomatic staff and urged their citizens to leave the country while the Norwegian and German embassies have closed their operations in Juba.
The US has called on President Kiir to free his rival from the reported house-arrest, urging the two leaders to show commitment to peace.
"We urge President Kiir to reverse this action & prevent further escalation of the situation," the US Bureau of African Affairs wrote on X.
The escalating tensions come amid renewed clashes between forces loyal to the two rivals in the northern town of Nasir in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.
Pharaoh4rin: Those oju people are backward academically. In fact those guys hardly further their education. Very uncivilised people. But they can be very handsome and beautiful. And I don't know why.
Their girls like names such as hope Sarah Charity Monica Theresa
shut your fetid and putrid mouth up, I hate obnoxious folks, mischief makers, cretins and grandiloquent like you who don't have decorum, good manners and respect for others
Foreign Affairs › Re: 10 Countries With The Most Natural Resources by God1000(op): 5:47pm On Mar 31, 2025*. Modified: 6:27pm On Mar 31, 2025
