dots-menu
×

Home  »  The World Factbook, 2008  »  Natural resources

The World Factbook. 2008.

Natural resources

CountryNatural resources
Afghanistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Albaniapetroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Algeriapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
American Samoapumice, pumicite
Andorrahydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Angolapetroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Anguillasalt, fish, lobster
Antarcticairon 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
Antigua and BarbudaNEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Arctic Oceansand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Argentinafertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Armeniasmall deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
ArubaNEGL; white sandy beaches
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsfish
Atlantic Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Australiabauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Austriaoil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Azerbaijanpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Bahamas, Thesalt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Bahrainoil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Bangladeshnatural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Barbadospetroleum, fish, natural gas
Belarusforests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Belgiumconstruction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Belizearable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Beninsmall offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Bermudalimestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Bhutantimber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Boliviatin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Bosnia and Herzegovinacoal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower
Botswanadiamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Bouvet Islandnone
Brazilbauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
British Indian Ocean Territorycoconuts, fish, sugarcane
British Virgin IslandsNEGL
Bruneipetroleum, natural gas, timber
Bulgariabauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Burkina Fasomanganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt
Burmapetroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower
Burundinickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Cambodiaoil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Cameroonpetroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Canadairon ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Cape Verdesalt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Cayman Islandsfish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Central African Republicdiamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Chadpetroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Chilecopper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Chinacoal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world’s largest)
Christmas Islandphosphate, beaches
Clipperton Islandfish
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsfish
Colombiapetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
ComorosNEGL
Congo, Democratic Republic of thecobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber
Congo, Republic of thepetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Cook IslandsNEGL
Coral Sea IslandsNEGL
Costa Ricahydropower
Cote d’Ivoirepetroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Croatiaoil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Cubacobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Cypruscopper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Czech Republichard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Denmarkpetroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Djiboutigeothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Dominicatimber, hydropower, arable land
Dominican Republicnickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Ecuadorpetroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Egyptpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
El Salvadorhydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Equatorial Guineapetroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Eritreagold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Estoniaoil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Ethiopiasmall reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
European Unioniron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Faroe Islandsfish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Fijitimber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Finlandtimber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Francemetropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
French Polynesiatimber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
French Southern and Antarctic Landsfish, crayfish
note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts
Gabonpetroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Gambia, Thefish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
Gaza Striparable land, natural gas
Georgiaforests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Germanycoal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Ghanagold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Gibraltarnone
Greecelignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Greenlandcoal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Grenadatimber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Guamfishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Guatemalapetroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Guernseycropland
Guineabauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Guinea-Bissaufish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Guyanabauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Haitibauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Heard Island and McDonald Islandsfish
Holy See (Vatican City)none
Hondurastimber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Hong Kongoutstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Hungarybauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Icelandfish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Indiacoal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Indian Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Indonesiapetroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Iranpetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Iraqpetroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Irelandnatural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Isle of Mannone
Israeltimber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Italycoal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Jamaicabauxite, gypsum, limestone
Jan Mayennone
Japannegligible mineral resources, fish
Jerseyarable land
Jordanphosphates, potash, shale oil
Kazakhstanmajor deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Kenyalimestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Kiribatiphosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Korea, Northcoal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Korea, Southcoal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Kosovonickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
Kosovonickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
Kuwaitpetroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Kyrgyzstanabundant 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
Laostimber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Latviapeat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Lebanonlimestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land
Lesothowater, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Liberiairon ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Libyapetroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Liechtensteinhydroelectric potential, arable land
Lithuaniapeat, arable land, amber
Luxembourgiron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
MacauNEGL
Macedonialow-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Madagascargraphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Malawilimestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Malaysiatin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Maldivesfish
Maligold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Maltalimestone, salt, arable land
Marshall Islandscoconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Mauritaniairon ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Mauritiusarable land, fish
MayotteNEGL
Mexicopetroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Micronesia, Federated States offorests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Moldovalignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Monaconone
Mongoliaoil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Montenegrobauxite, hydroelectricity
MontserratNEGL
Moroccophosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Mozambiquecoal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Namibiadiamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Nauruphosphates, fish
Navassa Islandguano
Nepalquartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Netherlandsnatural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Netherlands Antillesphosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
New Caledonianickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
New Zealandnatural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Nicaraguagold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Nigeruranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Nigerianatural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Niuefish, arable land
Norfolk Islandfish
Northern Mariana Islandsarable land, fish
Norwaypetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Omanpetroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Pacific Oceanoil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Pakistanland, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Palauforests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Panamacopper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Papua New Guineagold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Paracel Islandsnone
Paraguayhydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Perucopper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Philippinestimber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Pitcairn Islandsmiro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Polandcoal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Portugalfish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Puerto Ricosome copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Qatarpetroleum, natural gas, fish
Romaniapetroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Russiawide 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
Rwandagold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Saint Barthelemyhas few natural resouces, its beaches being the most important
Saint Helenafish, lobster
Saint Kitts and Nevisarable land
Saint Luciaforests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Saint Martinsalt
Saint Pierre and Miquelonfish, deepwater ports
Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshydropower, cropland
Samoahardwood forests, fish, hydropower
San Marinobuilding stone
Sao Tome and Principefish, hydropower
Saudi Arabiapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Senegalfish, phosphates, iron ore
Serbiaoil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Seychellesfish, copra, cinnamon trees
Sierra Leonediamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Singaporefish, deepwater ports
Slovakiabrown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Slovenialignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Solomon Islandsfish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Somaliauranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
South Africagold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsfish
Southern Oceanprobable 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, fish
Spaincoal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
Spratly Islandsfish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Sri Lankalimestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Sudanpetroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Surinametimber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Svalbardcoal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Swazilandasbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Swedeniron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Switzerlandhydropower potential, timber, salt
Syriapetroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Taiwansmall deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Tajikistanhydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Tanzaniahydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Thailandtin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Timor-Lestegold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Togophosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
TokelauNEGL
Tongafish, fertile soil
Trinidad and Tobagopetroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Tunisiapetroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Turkeycoal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower
Turkmenistanpetroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Turks and Caicos Islandsspiny lobster, conch
Tuvalufish
Ugandacopper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Ukraineiron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
United Arab Emiratespetroleum, natural gas
United Kingdomcoal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
United Statescoal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesterrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Uruguayarable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Uzbekistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Vanuatumanganese, hardwood forests, fish
Venezuelapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Vietnamphosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower
Virgin Islandssun, sand, sea, surf
Wake Islandnone
Wallis and FutunaNEGL
West Bankarable land
Western Saharaphosphates, iron ore
Worldthe 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
Yemenpetroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Zambiacopper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Zimbabwecoal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals