The CIA World Factbook Edition 2024 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 2024 edition carries it in 257 entries, in its Geography section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 2024 edition
- 257
- 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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Africa
55 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
note 1: coltan, the industrial name for a columbite–tantalite mineral from which niobium and tantalum are extracted, is mainly artisanal and small-scale; tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold extracted from central Africa are considered "conflict minerals" and as such are subject to international monitoring
note 2: the DROC is the World's leading producer of cobalt, accounting for as much as 70% of the World's supply; between 20-30% of this cobalt is produced in artisanal and small-scale mining operations
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
- potential geothermal power,
- gold,
- clay,
- granite,
- limestone,
- marble,
- salt,
- diatomite,
- gypsum,
- pumice,
- petroleum
Egypt
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- iron ore,
- phosphates,
- manganese,
- limestone,
- gypsum,
- talc,
- asbestos,
- lead,
- rare earth elements,
- zinc
Equatorial Guinea
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- timber,
- gold,
- bauxite,
- diamonds,
- tantalum,
- sand and gravel,
- clay
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
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,
- rare earth elements,
- 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,
- silver,
- lead,
- tin,
- lithium,
- cadmium,
- tungsten,
- 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,
- rare earth elements,
- uranium,
- gem diamonds,
- platinum,
- copper,
- vanadium,
- salt,
- natural gas
note: South Africa was the World's leading chromite ore producer in 2022 with an output of 18,000 mt
South Sudan
- hydropower,
- fertile agricultural land,
- gold,
- diamonds,
- petroleum,
- hardwoods,
- limestone,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- chromium ore,
- zinc,
- tungsten,
- mica,
- silver
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 (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania),
- 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 noncommercial quantities;
- mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty;
- krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
fish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts
note: in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, brown trout and brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews -- the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000
Arctic Region
4 entriesAsia
23 entriesAfghanistan
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- coal,
- copper,
- chromite,
- talc,
- barites,
- sulfur,
- lead,
- zinc,
- iron ore,
- salt,
- precious and semiprecious stones,
- arable land
China
- coal,
- iron ore,
- helium,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- arsenic,
- bismuth,
- cobalt,
- cadmium,
- ferrosilicon,
- gallium,
- germanium,
- hafnium,
- indium,
- lithium,
- mercury,
- tantalum,
- tellurium,
- tin,
- titanium,
- tungsten,
- antimony,
- manganese,
- magnesium,
- molybdenum,
- selenium,
- strontium,
- vanadium,
- magnetite,
- aluminum,
- lead,
- zinc,
- rare earth elements,
- uranium,
- hydropower potential (world's largest),
- arable land
Georgia
timber, 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),
- antimony,
- iron ore,
- lead,
- manganese,
- mica,
- bauxite,
- rare earth elements,
- titanium ore,
- chromite,
- natural gas,
- diamonds,
- petroleum,
- limestone,
- arable land
Japan
negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is almost totally dependent on imported sources of energy
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,
- iron ore,
- limestone,
- magnesite,
- graphite,
- copper,
- zinc,
- lead,
- precious metals,
- hydropower
Kyrgyzstan
- abundant hydropower;
- gold, 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
- arable 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, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, 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
33 entriesEurope
49 entriesAlbania
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- coal,
- bauxite,
- chromite,
- copper,
- iron ore,
- nickel,
- salt,
- timber,
- hydropower,
- arable land
Austria
- oil,
- coal,
- lignite,
- timber,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- zinc,
- antimony,
- magnesite,
- tungsten,
- graphite,
- salt,
- hydropower
Belarus
- timber,
- peat deposits,
- small quantities of oil and natural gas,
- granite,
- dolomitic limestone,
- marl,
- chalk,
- sand,
- gravel,
- clay
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- coal,
- iron ore,
- antimony,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- chromite,
- cobalt,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- clay,
- gypsum,
- salt,
- sand,
- timber,
- hydropower
Croatia
- oil,
- some coal,
- bauxite,
- low-grade iron ore,
- calcium,
- gypsum,
- natural asphalt,
- silica,
- mica,
- clays,
- salt,
- hydropower
Estonia
- oil shale,
- peat,
- rare earth elements,
- phosphorite,
- clay,
- limestone,
- sand,
- dolomite,
- arable land,
- sea mud
European Union
- iron ore,
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- coal,
- copper,
- lead,
- zinc,
- bauxite,
- uranium,
- potash,
- salt,
- hydropower,
- arable land,
- timber,
- fish
France
- metropolitan France:
- coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish;
- French Guiana : gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
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,
- antimony,
- mercury,
- zinc,
- potash,
- marble,
- barite,
- asbestos,
- pumice,
- fluorspar,
- feldspar,
- pyrite (sulfur),
- natural gas and crude oil reserves,
- fish,
- arable land
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
- oil,
- gas,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- zinc,
- antimony,
- chromite,
- gold,
- silver,
- magnesium,
- pyrite,
- limestone,
- marble,
- 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 (Turkiye) 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
- bauxite,
- iron ore,
- nickel,
- zinc,
- copper,
- gold,
- lead,
- uranium,
- rare earth elements,
- molybdenum,
- potash,
- diamonds,
- silver,
- fish,
- timber,
- wildlife,
- coal,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- hydropower
United States
- coal,
- copper,
- lead,
- molybdenum,
- phosphates,
- rare earth elements,
- uranium,
- bauxite,
- gold,
- iron,
- mercury,
- nickel,
- potash,
- silver,
- tungsten,
- zinc,
- petroleum,
- natural gas,
- timber,
- arable land
note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
Oceania
28 entriesAustralia
- alumina,
- coal,
- iron ore,
- copper,
- lithium,
- tin,
- gold,
- silver,
- uranium,
- nickel,
- tungsten,
- rare earth elements,
- mineral sands,
- lead,
- zinc,
- diamonds,
- opals,
- natural gas,
- petroleum
note 1: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 26.5% of global coal exports in 2021; coal is the country’s most abundant energy resource, and coal ranks as the second-largest export commodity from Australia in terms of revenue; in 2020, Australia held the third-largest recoverable coal reserves in the world behind the United States and Russia
note 2: Australia is by far the world's largest supplier of opals
note 3: Australia holds the largest uranium reserves in the world and was the second-largest global uranium producer behind Kazakhstan in 2020
note 4: Australia was the largest exporter of LNG in the world in 2020
Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia
- timber,
- 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
13 entriesArgentina
- fertile plains of the pampas,
- lead,
- zinc,
- tin,
- copper,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- petroleum,
- uranium,
- arable land
Bolivia
- lithium,
- tin,
- natural gas,
- petroleum,
- zinc,
- tungsten,
- antimony,
- silver,
- iron,
- lead,
- gold,
- timber,
- hydropower
Brazil
- alumina,
- bauxite,
- beryllium,
- gold,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- nickel,
- niobium,
- phosphates,
- platinum,
- tantalum,
- tin,
- rare earth elements,
- uranium,
- petroleum,
- hydropower,
- timber
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,
- marble,
- limestone,
- precious stones,
- natural gas,
- hydropower,
- arable land
Cambodia
- oil and gas,
- timber,
- gemstones,
- iron ore,
- manganese,
- phosphates,
- hydropower potential,
- arable land
Indonesia
- petroleum,
- tin,
- natural gas,
- nickel,
- timber,
- bauxite,
- copper,
- fertile soils,
- coal,
- gold,
- silver
note: Indonesia is the World's leading producer of nickel with an output of 1.6 million mt in 2022
Thailand
- tin,
- rubber,
- natural gas,
- tungsten,
- tantalum,
- timber,
- lead,
- fish,
- gypsum,
- lignite,
- fluorite,
- arable land
Vietnam
- antimony,
- phosphates,
- coal,
- manganese,
- rare earth elements,
- bauxite,
- chromate,
- offshore oil and gas deposits,
- timber,
- hydropower,
- arable land
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 oil and gas fields on the continental margin;
- manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs;
- krill, fish
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2024, “Natural resources”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/natural-resources/2024.