The CIA World Factbook Edition 2005 Geography
Natural resources In 36 editions of 36.
Natural resources was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2005 edition carries it in 269 entries, in its Geography section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 2005 edition
- 269
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Natural resources” (1990 to 2025).
the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Natural resources, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.
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Entries with Natural resources in each edition
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World
1 entryWorld
the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only beginning to address
Africa
62 entriesBurundi
- nickel,
- uranium,
- rare earth oxides,
- peat,
- cobalt,
- copper,
- platinum,
- vanadium,
- arable land,
- hydropower,
- niobium,
- tantalum,
- gold,
- tin,
- tungsten,
- kaolin,
- limestone
Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo
- cobalt,
- copper,
- niobium,
- tantalum,
- petroleum,
- industrial and gem diamonds,
- gold,
- silver,
- zinc,
- manganese,
- tin,
- uranium,
- coal,
- hydropower,
- timber
Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo
- petroleum,
- timber,
- potash,
- lead,
- zinc,
- uranium,
- copper,
- phosphates,
- gold,
- magnesium,
- natural gas,
- hydropower
Cote d'Ivoire
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- diamonds,
- manganese,
- iron ore,
- cobalt,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- gold,
- nickel,
- tantalum,
- silica sand,
- clay,
- cocoa beans,
- coffee,
- palm oil,
- hydropower
Djibouti
- geothermal areas,
- gold,
- clay,
- granite,
- limestone,
- marble,
- salt,
- diatomite,
- gypsum,
- pumice,
- petroleum
Egypt
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- iron ore,
- phosphates,
- manganese,
- limestone,
- gypsum,
- talc,
- asbestos,
- lead,
- zinc
Equatorial Guinea
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- timber,
- gold,
- bauxite,
- diamonds,
- tantalum,
- sand and gravel,
- clay
Swaziland now Eswatini
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Gabon
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- diamond,
- niobium,
- manganese,
- uranium,
- gold,
- timber,
- iron ore,
- hydropower
Gambia, The now The Gambia
- fish,
- titanium (rutile and ilmenite),
- tin,
- zircon,
- silica sand,
- clay,
- petroleum
Ghana
- gold,
- timber,
- industrial diamonds,
- bauxite,
- manganese,
- fish,
- rubber,
- hydropower,
- petroleum,
- silver,
- salt,
- limestone
Guinea-Bissau
- fish,
- timber,
- phosphates,
- bauxite,
- clay,
- granite,
- limestone,
- unexploited deposits of petroleum
Kenya
- limestone,
- soda ash,
- salt,
- gemstones,
- fluorspar,
- zinc,
- diatomite,
- gypsum,
- wildlife,
- hydropower
Madagascar
- graphite,
- chromite,
- coal,
- bauxite,
- salt,
- quartz,
- tar sands,
- semiprecious stones,
- mica,
- fish,
- hydropower
Mali
- gold,
- phosphates,
- kaolin,
- salt,
- limestone,
- uranium,
- gypsum,
- granite,
- hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Namibia
- diamonds,
- copper,
- uranium,
- gold,
- lead,
- tin,
- lithium,
- cadmium,
- zinc,
- salt,
- hydropower,
- fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Somalia
- uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore,
- tin,
- gypsum,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- salt,
- natural gas,
- likely oil reserves
South Africa
- gold,
- chromium,
- antimony,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- phosphates,
- tin,
- uranium,
- gem diamonds,
- platinum,
- copper,
- vanadium,
- salt,
- natural gas
Sudan
- petroleum;
- small reserves of iron ore,
- copper,
- chromium ore,
- zinc,
- tungsten,
- mica,
- silver,
- gold,
- hydropower
Tanzania
- hydropower,
- tin,
- phosphates,
- iron ore,
- coal,
- diamonds,
- gemstones,
- gold,
- natural gas,
- nickel
Zimbabwe
- coal,
- chromium ore,
- asbestos,
- gold,
- nickel,
- copper,
- iron ore,
- vanadium,
- lithium,
- tin,
- platinum group metals
Antarctic Region
5 entriesAntarctica
- iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities;
- none presently exploited;
- krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries
Arctic Region
4 entriesAsia
23 entriesAfghanistan
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- coal,
- copper,
- chromite,
- talc,
- barites,
- sulfur,
- lead,
- zinc,
- iron ore,
- salt,
- precious and semiprecious stones
China
- coal,
- iron ore,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- mercury,
- tin,
- tungsten,
- antimony,
- manganese,
- molybdenum,
- vanadium,
- magnetite,
- aluminum,
- lead,
- zinc,
- uranium,
- hydropower potential (world's largest)
Georgia
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
India
- coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- mica,
- bauxite,
- titanium ore,
- chromite,
- natural gas,
- diamonds,
- petroleum,
- limestone,
- arable land
Kazakhstan
- major deposits of petroleum,
- natural gas,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- chrome ore,
- nickel,
- cobalt,
- copper,
- molybdenum,
- lead,
- zinc,
- bauxite,
- gold,
- uranium
Korea, North now North Korea
- coal,
- lead,
- tungsten,
- zinc,
- graphite,
- magnesite,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- gold,
- pyrites,
- salt,
- fluorspar,
- hydropower
Kyrgyzstan
- abundant hydropower;
- significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals;
- locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas;
- other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Mongolia
- oil,
- coal,
- copper,
- molybdenum,
- tungsten,
- phosphates,
- tin,
- nickel,
- zinc,
- fluorspar,
- gold,
- silver,
- iron
Nepal
- quartz,
- water,
- timber,
- hydropower,
- scenic beauty,
- small deposits of lignite,
- copper,
- cobalt,
- iron ore
Pakistan
- land,
- extensive natural gas reserves,
- limited petroleum,
- poor quality coal,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- salt,
- limestone
Russia
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources
Tajikistan
- hydropower,
- some petroleum,
- uranium,
- mercury,
- brown coal,
- lead,
- zinc,
- antimony,
- tungsten,
- silver,
- gold
Uzbekistan
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- coal,
- gold,
- uranium,
- silver,
- copper,
- lead and zinc,
- tungsten,
- molybdenum
Central America and the Caribbean
32 entriesEurope
47 entriesAlbania
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- coal,
- bauxite,
- chromite,
- copper,
- iron ore,
- nickel,
- salt,
- timber,
- hydropower
Austria
- oil,
- coal,
- lignite,
- timber,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- zinc,
- antimony,
- magnesite,
- tungsten,
- graphite,
- salt,
- hydropower
Belarus
- forests,
- peat deposits,
- small quantities of oil and natural gas,
- granite,
- dolomitic limestone,
- marl,
- chalk,
- sand,
- gravel,
- clay
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- coal,
- iron ore,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- chromite,
- cobalt,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- clay,
- gypsum,
- salt,
- sand,
- forests,
- hydropower
Croatia
- oil,
- some coal,
- bauxite,
- low-grade iron ore,
- calcium,
- gypsum,
- natural asphalt,
- silica,
- mica,
- clays,
- salt,
- hydropower
European Union
- iron ore,
- arable land,
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- coal,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- hydropower,
- uranium,
- potash,
- fish
France
- coal,
- iron ore,
- bauxite,
- zinc,
- uranium,
- antimony,
- arsenic,
- potash,
- feldspar,
- fluorospar,
- gypsum,
- timber,
- fish
Germany
- coal,
- lignite,
- natural gas,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- nickel,
- uranium,
- potash,
- salt,
- construction materials,
- timber,
- arable land
Greece
- lignite,
- petroleum,
- iron ore,
- bauxite,
- lead,
- zinc,
- nickel,
- magnesite,
- marble,
- salt,
- hydropower potential
Italy
- coal,
- mercury,
- zinc,
- potash,
- marble,
- barite,
- asbestos,
- pumice,
- fluorospar,
- feldspar,
- pyrite (sulfur),
- natural gas and crude oil reserves,
- fish,
- arable land
Macedonia now North Macedonia
- low-grade iron ore,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- chromite,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- tungsten,
- gold,
- silver,
- asbestos,
- gypsum,
- timber,
- arable land
Norway
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- titanium,
- pyrites,
- nickel,
- fish,
- timber,
- hydropower
Portugal
- fish,
- forests (cork),
- iron ore,
- copper,
- zinc,
- tin,
- tungsten,
- silver,
- gold,
- uranium,
- marble,
- clay,
- gypsum,
- salt,
- arable land,
- hydropower
Romania
- petroleum (reserves declining),
- timber,
- natural gas,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- salt,
- arable land,
- hydropower
Serbia and Montenegro
- oil,
- gas,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- antimony,
- chromite,
- nickel,
- gold,
- silver,
- magnesium,
- pyrite,
- limestone,
- marble,
- salt,
- hydropower,
- arable land
Slovakia
- brown coal and lignite;
- small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore;
- salt;
- arable land
Spain
- coal,
- lignite,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- uranium,
- tungsten,
- mercury,
- pyrites,
- magnesite,
- fluorspar,
- gypsum,
- sepiolite,
- kaolin,
- potash,
- hydropower,
- arable land
Sweden
- iron ore,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- gold,
- silver,
- tungsten,
- uranium,
- arsenic,
- feldspar,
- timber,
- hydropower
Ukraine
- iron ore,
- coal,
- manganese,
- natural gas,
- oil,
- salt,
- sulfur,
- graphite,
- titanium,
- magnesium,
- kaolin,
- nickel,
- mercury,
- timber,
- arable land
United Kingdom
- coal,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- iron ore,
- lead,
- zinc,
- gold,
- tin,
- limestone,
- salt,
- clay,
- chalk,
- gypsum,
- potash,
- silica sand,
- slate,
- arable land
Middle East
17 entriesSyria
- petroleum,
- phosphates,
- chrome and manganese ores,
- asphalt,
- iron ore,
- rock salt,
- marble,
- gypsum,
- hydropower
Turkey now Turkiye
- coal,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- chromium,
- antimony,
- mercury,
- gold,
- barite,
- borate,
- celestite (strontium),
- emery,
- feldspar,
- limestone,
- magnesite,
- marble,
- perlite,
- pumice,
- pyrites (sulfur),
- clay,
- arable land,
- hydropower
Yemen
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
North America
6 entriesCanada
- iron ore,
- nickel,
- zinc,
- copper,
- gold,
- lead,
- molybdenum,
- potash,
- diamonds,
- silver,
- fish,
- timber,
- wildlife,
- coal,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- hydropower
United States
- coal,
- copper,
- lead,
- molybdenum,
- phosphates,
- uranium,
- bauxite,
- gold,
- iron,
- mercury,
- nickel,
- potash,
- silver,
- tungsten,
- zinc,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- timber
Oceania
34 entriesAustralia
- bauxite,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- tin,
- gold,
- silver,
- uranium,
- nickel,
- tungsten,
- mineral sands,
- lead,
- zinc,
- diamonds,
- natural gas,
- petroleum
Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia
- forests,
- marine products,
- deep-seabed minerals,
- phosphate
Pitcairn Islands
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
South America
14 entriesArgentina
- fertile plains of the pampas,
- lead,
- zinc,
- tin,
- copper,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- petroleum,
- uranium
Bolivia
- tin,
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- zinc,
- tungsten,
- antimony,
- silver,
- iron,
- lead,
- gold,
- timber,
- hydropower
Brazil
- bauxite,
- gold,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- phosphates,
- platinum,
- tin,
- uranium,
- petroleum,
- hydropower,
- timber
French Guiana
- bauxite,
- timber,
- gold (widely scattered),
- petroleum,
- kaolin,
- fish,
- niobium,
- tantalum,
- clay
Peru
- copper,
- silver,
- gold,
- petroleum,
- timber,
- fish,
- iron ore,
- coal,
- phosphate,
- potash,
- hydropower,
- natural gas
Suriname
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Southeast Asia
19 entriesBurma now Burma (Myanmar)
- petroleum,
- timber,
- tin,
- antimony,
- zinc,
- copper,
- tungsten,
- lead,
- coal,
- some marble,
- limestone,
- precious stones,
- natural gas,
- hydropower
Indonesia
- petroleum,
- tin,
- natural gas,
- nickel,
- timber,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- fertile soils,
- coal,
- gold,
- silver
Thailand
- tin,
- rubber,
- natural gas,
- tungsten,
- tantalum,
- timber,
- lead,
- fish,
- gypsum,
- lignite,
- fluorite,
- arable land
Vietnam
- phosphates,
- coal,
- manganese,
- bauxite,
- chromate,
- offshore oil and gas deposits,
- forests,
- hydropower
Oceans
5 entriesArctic Ocean
- sand and gravel aggregates,
- placer deposits,
- polymetallic nodules,
- oil and gas fields,
- fish,
- marine mammals (seals and whales)
Atlantic Ocean
- oil and gas fields,
- fish,
- marine mammals (seals and whales),
- sand and gravel aggregates,
- placer deposits,
- polymetallic nodules,
- precious stones
Indian Ocean
- oil and gas fields,
- fish,
- shrimp,
- sand and gravel aggregates,
- placer deposits,
- polymetallic nodules
Pacific Ocean
- oil and gas fields,
- polymetallic nodules,
- sand and gravel aggregates,
- placer deposits,
- fish
Southern Ocean
- probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the continental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs;
- squid, whales, and seals - none exploited;
- krill, fishes
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2005, “Natural resources”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/natural-resources/2005.