According to the United Nations Environment Programme, Africa has roughly 30% of the world’s known mineral resources. It has 12% of global oil and 8% of natural gas. It also has 40% of the world’s gold and up to 90% of its chromium and platinum. Some of the largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, platinum, and uranium are found here.
In late February 2026, a Canadian company called Tsodilo Resources Limited reported that 15 rare-earth and critical minerals, including vanadium and cobalt, were discovered in Botswana. This suggests that many more natural deposits may still be waiting to be discovered in Africa. 
With so many resources, it’s easy to see why some African countries are the richest in natural resources. Here are the top ones with the most valuable reserves according to the World Mining Data 2023.
Top 10 African Countries by Natural Resources
1. South Africa
Minerals: Coal, diamonds, iron ore and chromium. Also world’s largest reserves of manganese and platinum group metals.
Annual minerals production: $124,963 million
2. Nigeria
Minerals: gold, oil, columbite, wolframite, tantalite, bitumen, iron ore and uranium.
Annual minerals production: $52,678million
3. Algeria
Minerals: Iron, zinc, gold, silver, baryte, bentonite, diatomite, feldspar, gypsum, kaolin, phosphates, salt, sulphur, natural gas, petroleum.
Annual minerals production: $38,699 million
ALSO READ: See the 15 Rare-Earth Minerals Found In Botswana
4. Angola
Minerals: Diamonds, gold, manganese, gypsum, salt, and oil
Annual minerals production: $32,042 million
5. Libya
Minerals: Clay, cement, limestone, potash, magnetite, phosphate rock, and sulphur.
Annual minerals production: $27,027 million
6. Egypt
Minerals: Gold, iron, manganese, aluminium, baryte, copper, silver, zinc, fluorspar, gypsum, kaolin, phosphate, salt, sulphur, talc, oil and platinum
Annual minerals production: $23,225 million
7. Ghana
Minerals: Gold, iron ore, limestone, bauxite, columbite-tantalite, feldspar, quartz and salt, and also minor deposits of ilmenite, magnetite and rutile.
Annual minerals production: $14,970 million
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Minerals: manganese, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, tin, silver, gold, diamonds, cobalt and high-grade copper reserves
Annual minerals production: $13,688 million
9. Gabon
Minerals: Iron ore, uranium, gold and manganese
Annual minerals production: $10,920 million
10. Zimbabwe
Minerals: Platinum, chrome, gold, coal, and diamonds.
Annual minerals production: $9,767 million
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