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By Bruno Venditti | Graphics/Design: Anna Diederichs
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia leads with nearly $1 million in natural resources per person, far ahead of other prominent resource-rich nations.
- Large populations push China and the U.S. to the bottom of the top 10 despite their large total reserves.
How many dollars of natural resource wealth do the world’s leading countries have per person?
This ranking breaks it down, based on numbers from the 10 countries with the highest natural resources value (Statista) divided by 2025 population figures (Worldometer).
Resource values are based on 2021 estimates.
Saudi Arabia Dominates Per-Capita Resource Wealth
Saudi Arabia tops the ranking with almost $1 million in natural resources for every resident. The country’s vast oil reserves remain its economic backbone, and low population density amplifies its per-person total.
Even compared to other resource-rich countries, the gap is striking—Saudi Arabia’s per-capita figure is roughly 12 times higher than that of the United States.
Canada and Australia Follow, Powered by Energy and Minerals
Canada and Australia place second and third, each surpassing $700,000 per person in natural resources. Canada’s value is driven by oil sands, timber, and mineral reserves, while Australia benefits from iron ore, coal, and natural gas exports.
Both nations combine large landmasses with relatively modest populations, creating an outsized per-capita advantage.
Large Populations Reduce Per-Capita Wealth in Major Economies
China and the United States hold enormous natural resource totals but fall to the bottom of the top 10 once population is factored in. China has more than 1.4 billion people, reducing its per-capita figure to just over $16,000.
The U.S., despite a $45 trillion resource valuation, ranks eighth because its population dilutes the per-person share.
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