1.Russia
Total resource cost: $ 75.7 trillion.
Oil reserves (value): 60 billion barrels ($ 7.08 billion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 1.680 trillion. cubic feet ($ 19 billion)
Wood stock (value): 1.95 billion acres ($ 28.4 trillion)
When it comes to natural resources, Russia is richest country in the world. It is the leader among all countries in the world in terms of the amount of natural gas and timber reserves. The sheer size of the country is at the same time its blessing and curse, since the construction of pipelines for transporting gas, as well as railways for transportation of timber cost fabulous sums.
In addition to having such a large supply of gas and timber, Russia has the second largest coal deposits in the world and the third largest gold deposits. In addition, it is the second largest rare earth mineral deposits, although they are not currently mined.
2. United States
Total resource cost: $ 45 trillion
Natural gas reserves (value): 272.5 cubic meters m ($ 3.1 trillion)
Wood stock (value): 750 million acres ($ 10.9 trillion)
The United States has 31.2% of the world's proven coal reserves. They are estimated at $ 30 trillion. They are by far the most valuable reserves on earth. The country has about 750 million acres of forestland, which is worth about $ 11 trillion. Wood and coal combined cost approximately 89% of the total cost natural resources country. The United States is also among the top five countries with global reserves of copper, gold and natural gas.
3. Saudi Arabia
Total resource cost: $ 34.4 trillion
Oil reserves (value): 266.7 trillion. barrels ($ 31.5 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 258.5 trillion. cubic meters ($ 2.9 trillion)
Saudi Arabia owns about 20% of the world's oil - the largest share of any country. All significant resources of the country lie in carbon - oil or gas. The kingdom has the fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world. As these resources are depleted, Saudi Arabia will eventually lose high position on this list. However, this will not happen for several more decades.
4. Canada
Total resource cost: $ 33.2 trillion
Oil reserves (value): 178.1 billion barrels ($ 21 trillion)
Wood stock (value): 775 million acres ($ 11.3 trillion)
Before the discovery of oil sands, Canada's total mineral reserves would probably have kept it out of this list. The oil sands added about 150 billion barrels to Canada's total oil in 2009 and 2010. The country also produces a decent amount of phosphate, although phosphorite deposits are not among the top 10 in the world. In addition, Canada has the world's second largest proven uranium reserves and the third largest timber reserves.
5.Iran
Total resource cost: $ 27.3 trillion.
Oil reserves (value): 136.2 billion barrels ($ 16.1 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 991.6 billion m ($ 11.2 trillion)
Wood stock (value): not in the top 10
Iran shares a giant with Qatar gas field in the Persian Gulf South Pars / North Dome. The country contains about 16% of the world's natural gas reserves. Iran also has the third largest proven oil quantity in the world. This is more than 10% of the world's oil reserves. V this moment the country is experiencing problems in the implementation of its resources in connection with its alienation from international markets.
6. China
Total resource cost: $ 23 trillion
Oil reserves (value): not in the top 10
Natural gas reserves (value): not in the top 10
Wood stock (value): 450 million acres ($ 6.5 trillion)
China's resource value is based largely on its reserves of coal and rare earths. China has significant coal reserves that account for over 13% of the world's total. Shale gas deposits were recently discovered here. After assessing them, China's status as a leader in natural resources will only improve.
7. Brazil
Total resource cost: $ 21.8 trillion
Oil reserves (value): not in the top 10
Natural gas reserves (value): not in the top 10
Wood stock (value): 1.2 billion acres ($ 17.5 trillion)
Significant reserves of gold and uranium contributed more to getting a place on this list. Brazil also owns 17% iron ore in the world. The most valuable natural resource, however, is wood. The country owns 12.3% of the world's timber reserves, which are estimated at $ 17.45 trillion. In order to ensure consistency and accuracy of the study, recently discovered offshore oil reserves have not been included in this report. According to preliminary estimates, the field may contain 44 billion barrels of oil.
8. Australia
Total resource cost: $ 19.9 trillion
Oil reserves (value): not in the top 10
Natural gas reserves (value): not in the top 10
Wood stock (value): 369 million acres ($ 5.3 trillion)
Australia's natural wealth lies in its vast amounts of timber, coal, copper and iron. The country is in the top three for total reserves of seven resources on this list. Australia has the largest gold reserves in the world - it has 14.3% of the world's reserves. It also supplies 46% of the world's uranium. In addition, the country has significant amounts of natural gas offshore the northwest coast, which it shares with Indonesia.
9. Iraq
Total resource cost: $ 15.9 trillion Z
Oil reserves (value): 115 billion barrels ($ 13.6 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 111.9 trillion. cub. ft ($ 1.3 trillion)
Wood stock (value): not in the top 10
Iraq's greatest wealth is oil - 115 billion barrels of proven reserves. This accounts for almost 9% of the world's total oil. Despite relatively easy production, most of these reserves remain untapped due to political differences between the central government and Kurdistan over ownership of oil. Iraq also has one of the most serious phosphorite reserves in the world, worth more than $ 1.1 trillion. However, these deposits are not fully developed.
10. Venezuela
Total resource cost: $ 14.3 trillion
Oil reserves (value): 99.4 billion barrels ($ 11.7 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 170.9 cubic meters ft ($ 1.9 trillion)
Wood stock (value): not in the top 10
Venezuela is one of the 10 largest resource holders for iron, natural gas and oil. Natural gas reserves in this South American country occupy the eighth place in the world and amount to 179.9 cubic meters. pounds. These reserves account for just over 2.7% of the world's reserves. Venezuela, according to experts, contains 99 billion barrels of oil, which is 7.4% of the world's total reserves.
British oil and gas company British Petroleum has published a ranking of the countries with the largest and most valuable natural resources on our planet. Let's see who is the richest in natural resources.
12.2 billion barrels of proved oil reserves
4.4 trillion cubic meters meters of proven natural gas reserves.
Algeria is Africa's largest natural gas producer and the second largest oil producer. Oil production remained at the same level in last years, and natural gas production declined. In recent years, the Algerian Parliament has introduced tax incentives to attract foreign companies, in particular in the field of offshore exploration and production of shale gas.
48 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.
1.53 trillion cubic meters meters of proven natural gas reserves.
Libya has the largest proven oil reserves and is the fourth largest proven natural gas resource in Africa. Civil War in 2011 significantly affected the production and export of oil. Oil and natural gas account for about 96% of total government revenues.
5.7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.
1.3 trillion cubic meters feet of proven natural gas reserves.
60.600 million tons of proven coal reserves
India is the fourth largest energy consumer in the world, lagging only behind the United States, China and Russia. India is currently unable to sustainably meet domestic energy demand, making the protection of energy resources one of the top priorities of the Indian economy.
Kazakhstan
30 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
1.28 trillion cubic meters meters of proven natural gas reserves.
33.600 million tons of proven coal reserves.
Kazakhstan produces about 1.64 million barrels of oil per day. In recent years, production has continued to grow thanks to the development of the Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan fields. Since Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991, there has been an influx of foreign investment.
37.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
5.1 trillion cubic meters meters of proven natural gas reserves
Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the fourth largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world. It also has the largest natural gas reserves in Africa.
Australia
3.9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
3.7 trillion cubic meters meters of proven natural gas reserves
76,400 million tons of proven coal reserves
Australia is rich in lucrative resources such as fossil fuels and uranium. Australia's political stability, as well as its proximity to Asia, makes it very attractive to foreign companies. Foreign investment will help develop energy infrastructure and create more efficient energy production.
Turkmenistan
10.6 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.
17.4 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
Despite the large reserves of natural gas in Turkmenistan, its development has been limited due to insufficient pipeline infrastructure.
101.5 billion barrels of proved oil reserves
1.764 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
17.3 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
3.06 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
11.4500 million tons of proven coal reserves
The most populous country in the world and the fastest growing economy in the world. China is the largest energy consumer and producer in the world. Natural gas production in the country is growing, but coal remains the main source of energy in China. China currently accounts for nearly half of the world's coal consumption.
United United Arab Emirates
97.8 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
6.trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
The United Arab Emirates currently produces an average of 2.8 million barrels of crude oil per day. The UAE is making progress in diversifying its economy in tourism and manufacturing, but the energy sector still dominates the economy.
23.9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
24.8 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
Qatar has thrived in recent years thanks to its reliable energy sector. How largest exporter liquefied natural gas and the world's fourth largest supplier of dry natural gas, Qatar earned $ 55 billion from oil exports in 2012, or about 60% of the state's total revenue.
150 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
3.550 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
173.9 billion barrels of proved oil reserves
1.960 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
6582 million tons of proven coal reserves
Canada is one of the five largest energy producers in the world. Canada is the main supplier of energy to the United States.
35 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
8.4 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
237295 million tons of proven coal reserves
The United States is the world's second largest energy consumer. The country consumes 25% of the world's oil consumption, while producing only 6% of the world's annual oil supply.
Saudi Arabia
266 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
8.1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas
Saudi Arabia has nearly a fifth of the world's proven oil reserves and is also the largest producer and exporter of oil. Saudi Arabia also has large reserves of natural gas that remain relatively undeveloped.
Venezuela
297.6 billion barrels of proved oil reserves
5.5 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
479,000,000 tons of proven coal reserves
Venezuela is currently the 8th largest oil exporter and has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.
157 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
0.03 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
87 billion barrels of proven oil reserves
32.5 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves
157 million tons of proven coal reserves
Russia is currently the second largest producer of dry natural gas and is second only to the United States and Saudi Arabia in oil production. Economic growth in Russia is heavily dependent on energy exports, with oil and gas revenues accounting for 52% of the federal budget.
1.Russia
Total resource cost: $ 75.7 trillion.
Oil reserves (value): 60 billion barrels ($ 7.08 billion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 1.680 trillion. cubic feet ($ 19 billion)
Wood stock (value): 1.95 billion acres ($ 28.4 trillion)
When it comes to natural resources, Russia is the richest country in the world. It is the leader among all countries in the world in terms of the amount of natural gas and timber reserves. The sheer size of the country is both a blessing and a curse, since the construction of pipelines for transporting gas, as well as railways for transporting timber, cost fabulous sums.
In addition to having such a large supply of gas and timber, Russia has the second largest coal deposits in the world and the third largest gold deposits. In addition, it is the second largest rare earth mineral deposits, although they are not currently mined.
2. United States
Total resource cost: $ 45 trillion
Natural gas reserves (value): 272.5 cubic meters m ($ 3.1 trillion)
Wood stock (value): 750 million acres ($ 10.9 trillion)
The United States has 31.2% of the world's proven coal reserves. They are estimated at $ 30 trillion. They are by far the most valuable reserves on earth. The country has about 750 million acres of forestland, which is worth about $ 11 trillion. Wood and coal, taken together, cost approximately 89% of the total value of the country's natural resources. The United States is also among the top five countries with global reserves of copper, gold and natural gas.
3. Saudi Arabia
Total resource cost: $ 34.4 trillion
Oil reserves (value): 266.7 trillion. barrels ($ 31.5 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 258.5 trillion. cubic meters ($ 2.9 trillion)
Saudi Arabia owns about 20% of the world's oil - the largest share of any country. All significant resources of the country lie in carbon - oil or gas. The kingdom has the fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world. As these resources are depleted, Saudi Arabia will eventually lose a high position on this list. However, this will not happen for several more decades.
4. Canada
Total resource cost: $ 33.2 trillion
Oil reserves (value): 178.1 billion barrels ($ 21 trillion)
Wood stock (value): 775 million acres ($ 11.3 trillion)
Before the discovery of oil sands, Canada's total mineral reserves would probably have kept it out of this list. The oil sands added about 150 billion barrels to Canada's total oil in 2009 and 2010. The country also produces a decent amount of phosphate, although phosphorite deposits are not among the top 10 in the world. In addition, Canada has the world's second largest proven uranium reserves and the third largest timber reserves.
5.Iran
Total resource cost: $ 27.3 trillion.
Oil reserves (value): 136.2 billion barrels ($ 16.1 trillion)
Natural gas reserves (value): 991.6 billion m ($ 11.2 trillion)
Wood stock (value): not in the top 10
Iran shares with Qatar the giant South Pars / North Dome gas field in the Persian Gulf. The country contains about 16% of the world's natural gas reserves. Iran also has the third largest proven oil quantity in the world. This is more than 10% of the world's oil reserves. At the moment, the country is experiencing problems with the implementation of its resources in connection with its alienation from international markets.
6. China
Total resource cost: $ 23 trillion
Oil reserves (value): not in the top 10
Natural gas reserves (value): not in the top 10
Wood stock (value): 450 million acres ($ 6.5 trillion)
China's resource value is based largely on its reserves of coal and rare earths. China has significant coal reserves that account for over 13% of the world's total. Shale gas deposits were recently discovered here. After assessing them, China's status as a leader in natural resources will only improve.
7. Brazil
Total resource cost: $ 21.8 trillion
Oil reserves (value): not in the top 10
Natural gas reserves (value): not in the top 10
Wood stock (value): 1.2 billion acres ($ 17.5 trillion)
Significant reserves of gold and uranium contributed more to getting a place on this list. Brazil also owns 17% of the world's iron ore. The most valuable natural resource, however, is wood. The country owns 12.3% of the world's timber reserves, which are estimated at $ 17.45 trillion. In order to ensure consistency and accuracy of the study, recently discovered offshore oil reserves have not been included in this report. According to preliminary estimates, the field may contain 44 billion barrels of oil.
This list is opened by the largest country in terms of territory - Russia. The entire cost of reserves is estimated at. This amount includes such stocks as:
- Oil $ 7.08 trillion, or 60 billion barrels.
- Natural gas - 19 trillion US dollars, reserves - 48 trillion. cubic meters
- The tree is 28.4 trillion US dollars, which is 1.95 billion acres.
75.7 trillion US dollars It would seem that it is easy to extract natural reserves in such a territory, but it is not at all as easy as it seems at first glance. The whole difficulty lies in the construction of nodal points and pipeline routes that stretch for hundreds of kilometers in order to connect the farthest corners of the country. In addition to the pipeline, the work of the railways also requires constant debugging. Whichever way of transporting reserves you would prefer, it will cost a tidy sum.
In addition to oil, gas and wood in Russian Federation there is also a huge fund of coal (2nd place in the world ranking) and gold (3rd place in the world ranking), as well as earth minerals (2nd place in the world ranking), which, unfortunately, are not extracted.
The United States of America (USA) is in 2nd place in terms of the number of natural reserves and their cost.
The states deserve this position due to the presence of:
- 9.34 trillion cubic meters meters of natural gas, worth 3.1 trillion US dollars.
- 750 million acres of trees, worth $ 10.9 trillion.
- The oil fund is 20.7 billion barrels, which is not in the TOP-10 world indicators.
The total cost of all the above reserves is 45 trillion American dollars.
In addition, the United States is rich in coal, whose reserves account for 31.3% of the world's reserves. These reserves are estimated at US $ 30 trillion. Since the percentage of coal reserves is so large, they are the most valuable reserve not only for the country, but for the whole world.
The largest percentage of the US natural reserves, 89%, belongs to coal and wood.
In addition to the reserves described above, there are also deposits of copper and gold in the United States.
Saudi Arabia ranks third in the list of countries with the largest natural reserves.
To take the third step, it is enough to have:
- 266.7 billion barrels of oil, which is worth 31.5 trillion US dollars.
- 358.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which is estimated at 2.9 trillion US dollars.
The stock of trees available in Saudi Arabia does not fall into the TOP10, nevertheless, even without them, the total cost of all the above reserves is 34.4 trillion American dollars.
If we consider that all oil reserves on Earth are 100%, then 20 of them are located in Saudi Arabia. This figure is the highest among the rest of the countries.
The only drawback is that all reserves are gradually depleted and the country will gradually leave its leadership in such a rating. But this can happen not earlier than in tens of years.
Ranking in fourth place, the total value of all available natural reserves is 33.2 trillion American dollars. This cost includes such reserves as:
- 178.1 billion barrels of oil (worth $ 21 trillion).
- 775 million acres of trees ($ 11.3 trillion worth).
Canada also has phosphate deposits, as well as uranium reserves (3rd place in the world ranking).
In total, the country has US $ 27.3 trillion, in which such reserves are estimated as:
- 136.2 billion barrels of oil, which is worth US $ 16.1 trillion.
- 34.8 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, valued at USD 11.2 trillion.
Iran shares gas fields with Qatar, since they are located in the Persian Gulf. The part of the Gulf, which belongs to Iran, contains 16% of all natural gas reserves. And 136.2 billion barrels of oil (this number is about 10% of all reserves on Earth) allow Iran to be in 3rd place in the rating, which estimates the volume of oil.
Unfortunately, Iran has problems with the implementation of its reserves, as the country has moved away from international relations and its detachment from markets.
A powerful country known for its technical inventions, it is ranked sixth in the ranking of the countries with the largest natural reserves.
China has:
- 450 million acres of trees, which are valued at 6.5 trillion US dollars.
- Oil and natural gas funds do not reach the indicators satisfied by the TOP-10.
The total value of all the above reserves is USD 23 trillion.
The assessment of natural reserves mainly includes coal funds (13% of all world reserves) and rare earth minerals.
The total value of all reserves in Brazil is 21.8 trillion American dollars.
- The main contribution to the total value is made by the tree, which covers an area of 1.2 billion acres and is estimated at 17.5 trillion US dollars.
- Oil and natural gas funds do not reach places in the TOP-10.
Both gold and uranium have their own interest. In addition, there are 17% of the world's iron ore reserves. The aforementioned wood reserves account for 12.3% of the world's reserves, which is the most valuable for Brazil.
Although offshore oil fields have recently been discovered, which were tentatively estimated at 44 billion barrels, it would not be accurate to account for them and move the country to a higher place in the ranking.
Despite the fact that the total value of all natural reserves of the country is US $ 19.9 trillion, the main reserves (oil and natural gas) do not fall into the TOP10 position. But the tree is 369 million acres, which is estimated at 5.3 trillion US dollars. The most valuable in Australia are coal, copper, iron and, of course, trees.
14.3% of all world gold reserves are in Australia, and 46% of uranium also goes into the world from this country. The natural gas available in the country is produced offshore in the northwest of the country.
The total cost of reserves includes such natural gifts as:
- Oil, in the amount of 115 billion barrels and a value of 13.6 trillion US dollars.
- Natural gas, with a volume of 3.1 trillion cubic meters, which is estimated at 1.3 trillion US dollars.
- The tree does not affect the total amount of natural reserves, which are 15.9 trillion US dollars, (based on the above figures).
Oil in Iraq accounts for 9% of the world's reserves and is considered the country's greatest asset. But the use of these fuel reserves has several characteristics, which mainly consist in the settlement of political relations with the central government and Kurdistan (the country has relative rights to the oil produced). But overcoming such an obstacle, oil production is set up in such a way that it happens relatively easily.
In addition, there are also reserves of phosphorites in Iraq, which contribute another 1.1 trillion US dollars to the total value of all the country's natural reserves. But phosphorite deposits are not yet fully developed for their extraction.
The ranking is completed by Venezuela. This country has the total value of all natural reserves 14.3 trillion American dollars.
It turns out this amount, if you put together:
- 99.4 billion barrels of oil ($ 11.7 trillion). This figure means that the country owns 7.4% of the world's oil reserves.
- 5.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas (US $ 1.9 trillion). This figure means that the country owns 2.7% of the world supply
In addition, the presence of iron also affects the total amount.
How is the wealth of a country determined?
For any power, one of the factors ensuring its independence from other countries will not be political declarations. In reality, an excellent means of organizing a more or less autonomous existence is the wealth of the subsoil.
The so-called minerals will serve for the state, which has them in abundance, not only as an excellent and virtually uninterrupted (depending on how efficiently they are extracted) source of energy resources, but will also become a significant item of treasury income if they are sold for export. The wealth of many powers is based on this principle, and even the derogatory nickname "sitting on an oil (or gas) needle", given sometimes by representatives of other countries, does not force them to reorient their own economy to something different from this way of earning (especially since sometimes there is simply no alternative to it).
Various rating agencies and financial publications periodically try to determine which countries are the richest in minerals. Each of these institutions has its own criteria.
Russia and the USA
For example, one of the American online portals (which has some relation to the famous Wall Street) simply "converted" the reserves of natural resources belonging to this or that state in the dollar equivalent and thus found out which state can be called the most wealthy in this regard.
Russia took the first place. Experts have estimated its deposits of various raw materials and available forests (also a useful resource!) At almost 76 trillion dollars. Moreover, even a tenth of such reserves does not fall on oil - it accounts for about 7 trillion. But the "blue fuel" deposits in the Russian subsoil can still bring, according to experts, about 19 trillion. dollars.
The first line of one of the largest powers on the planet is occupied by it unconditionally. The closest pursuer - the United States - was about 30 trillion "poorer". (Isn't that why the Americans are not averse to profit from the minerals of other countries?)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia closed the three richest in natural resources states with its 4.4 trillion. dollars. It was not surprising that more than 31 trillion of them are oil - after all, this Arab country mainly fills its own treasury with the income from the sale of "black gold".
However, Canada, which took the fourth line of this top-list, was not far behind. Its fossils are estimated by experts at 3.2 trillion dollars, with a little less than two-thirds of them falling on oil (21 trillion) and about a third on timber.
The top 10 also includes other resource-rich countries, with Iran ranking fifth among them. Its subsoil can potentially generate income of about 7.3 trillion. dollars, and 6.1 of them will be produced at the expense of oil reserves.
In sixth place is China. The oil and gas resources of the Celestial Empire, however, did not pull even for the top ten richest, but in this country there are many other natural resources that could bring it 23 trillion. dollars as income.
Other rich countries
Other states from the top 10 include Brazil (about 22 trillion), Australia (nearly twenty trillion), Iraq (5.9 trillion, of which 3.6 should be provided by "black gold") and another "oil "power - Venezuela with its 4.3 trillion.
Russians, having seen such a list, will surely find in it a reason to be proud of their own state. Still, such an assessment by experts clearly shows that there are a lot of oil and gas reserves in the country - you just need to properly dispose of them.
