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The 20 Most Natural Resource-Rich Countries in the World (early 2025)

Rich countries 

Norsk etter engelsk tekst

The value of a country's natural resources – such as oil, gas, minerals, timber, and precious metals – is a key factor for both economic strength and geopolitical power. Some countries possess enormous values underground, but they exploit them differently, depending on their governance, infrastructure, and institutional capacity.

Based on updated figures from 2024–2025 (Visual Capitalist, Investopedia, World Population Review, etc.), below are the twenty countries with the highest estimated resource value – as well as population and geographic size. Cfr. figures before 2024

Rank Country Resource Value (bn USD) Population (millions) Area (million km²)
1 Russia 75,000 146 17.10
2 USA 45,000 347 9.15
3 Saudi Arabia 34,000 34.6 2.15
4 Canada 33,000 40.1 9.09
5 Iran 27,300 88 1.65
6 China 23,000 1,408 9.60
7 Brazil 22,000 213 8.36
8 Australia 20,000 26 7.69
9 Iraq 16,000 45 0.44
10 Venezuela 14,300 28 0.92
11 India 7,000 1,440 3.29
12 Mexico 6,500 129 1.96
13 Indonesia 6,300 282 1.91
14 DR Congo 6,000 103 2.34
15 Nigeria 5,400 230 0.92
16 Kazakhstan 5,200 19 2.72
17 Algeria 4,900 45 2.38
18 South Africa 3,000 62 1.22
19 Ukraine 2,900 37 0.60
20 Guyana 2,000 0.8 0.21

Comments and Insights

Russia tops the list with over 75,000 billion dollars in resource value. It has enormous deposits of natural gas, oil, coal, timber, and metals.

The USA comes in second, with a broad base of resources: oil, forests, gas, minerals, and agriculture. The same applies to Canada, which has a large area and a low population density.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela have oil as their main source of resource value, while Australia and Brazil stand out with both mineral and agricultural resources.

India and China have large mineral resources, but a very large population, which makes the resource value per capita relatively low.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Kazakhstan, and South Africa have enormous mineral deposits (cobalt, platinum, uranium, etc.), but political risk and infrastructure problems hinder their exploitation.

Guyana is a newcomer to the oil world. Major offshore discoveries mean the country now has a very high resource value relative to its population of less than one million.

Resource Wealth ≠ Prosperity


It is important to remember that high natural resource value does not automatically lead to prosperity. Countries like Norway, Canada, and Australia have combined resource wealth with strong public administration and good institutions.

In contrast, several of the countries on the list – which struggle with elite rule, little social sharing of common values, and tax systems that favor the rich – are prevented from having the values benefit their inhabitants.


Dei 20 mest naturressursrike landa i verda (primo 2025)

Verdien av naturressursane i eit land – som olje, gass, mineral, tømmer og edelmetall – er ein nøkkelfaktor for både økonomisk styrke og geopolitisk makt. Enkelte land sit på enorme verdiar i bakken, men utnyttar dei ulikt, avhengig av styresett, infrastruktur og institusjonell kapasitet.

Basert på oppdaterte tal frå 2024–2025 (Visual Capitalist, Investopedia, World Population Review m.fl.), ser vi under dei tjue landa med høgast estimert ressursverdi – samt folketal og geografisk storleik. Kfr tall før 2024 

Topp 20 land etter verdi av naturressursar

Rang Land Ressursverdi (mrd USD) Befolkning (millionar) Areal (millionar km²)
1 Russland 75 000 146 17,10
2 USA 45 000 347 9,15
3 Saudi-Arabia 34 000 34,6 2,15
4 Canada 33 000 40,1 9,09
5 Iran 27 300 88 1,65
6 Kina 23 000 1 408 9,60
7 Brasil 22 000 213 8,36
8 Australia 20 000 26 7,69
9 Irak 16 000 45 0,44
10 Venezuela 14 300 28 0,92
11 India 7 000 1 440 3,29
12 Mexico 6 500 129 1,96
13 Indonesia 6 300 282 1,91
14 DR Kongo 6 000 103 2,34
15 Nigeria 5 400 230 0,92
16 Kasakhstan 5 200 19 2,72
17 Algerie 4 900 45 2,38
18 Sør-Afrika 3 000 62 1,22
19 Ukraina 2 900 37 0,60
20 Guyana 2 000 0,8 0,21

Kommentarar og innsikt

  • Russland tronar øvst med over 75 000 milliardar dollar i ressursverdi. Det har enorme førekomstar av naturgass, olje, kol, tømmer og metall.

  • USA kjem som nummer to, med stor breidde i ressursgrunnlaget: olje, skog, gass, mineral og jordbruk. Det same gjeld Canada, som har stort areal og låg folketettleik.

  • Saudi-Arabia, Iran, Irak og Venezuela har oljen som hovudkjelda til ressursverdi, medan Australia og Brasil utmerkjer seg med både mineral og jordbruksressursar.

  • India og Kina har store mineralressursar, men ein svært stor befolkning, som gjer ressursverdi per innbyggjar relativt låg.

  • Den demokratiske republikken Kongo (DR Kongo), Kasakhstan og Sør-Afrika har enorme mineralførekomstar (kobolt, platina, uran m.m.), men politisk risiko og infrastrukturproblem svekkjer utnyttinga.

  • Guyana er ein nykomar i oljeverda. Store offshore-funn gjer at landet no har svært høg ressursverdi i forhold til befolkninga på under éin million.

Ressursrikdom ≠ velstand

Det er viktig å hugse at høg naturressursverdi ikkje automatisk fører til velstand. Land som Norge, Canada og Australia har kombinert ressursrikdom med sterk offentleg forvaltning og gode institusjonar. 

I motsetnad har fleire av landa på lista – som slit med elitestyre, lite sosial deling av felles-verdiane og skattesystem som favoriserer dei rike, som hindrar at verdiane kjem innbyggjarane til gode.

Resource Value per capita (USD per innbygger 2025-tall) 

RankCountryResource Value (bn USD)Population (millions)Resource Value per capita (USD)
1Russia75,000146513,699
2USA45,000347129,683
3Saudi Arabia34,00034.6982,659
4Canada33,00040.1822,943
5Iran27,30088310,227
6China23,0001,40816,337
7Brazil22,000213103,286
8Australia20,00026769,231
9Iraq16,00045355,556
10Venezuela14,30028510,714
11India7,0001,4404,861
12Mexico6,50012950,388
13Indonesia6,30028222,340
14DR Congo6,00010358,252
15Nigeria5,40023023,478
16Kazakhstan5,20019273,684
17Algeria4,90045108,889
18South Africa3,0006248,387
19Ukraine2,9003778,378
20Guyana2,0000.82,500,000





















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