This graphic ranks the countries where mining exports (minerals, ores, and metals) are more than 60% of their total exports. Data is from sourced from UN Trade and Development, based on 2019–2021 averaged figures This sort of resource dependency can make a country vulnerable to economic shocks via price fluctuations. Diamonds, Gold, and Copper: Key Exports for Many Countries Around 90% of Botswana’s exports are concentrated in mining, making it the most mineral resource dependent country in the world. Within the sector, diamonds alone account for 80% of all exports. As a result, Botswana is the top producer of raw, uncut diamonds in the world. The IMF estimates that 25% of the country’s $20 billion GDP is from diamond mining. Rank Country % of Exports from Mining Top Mineral/Metal Export (2022) 1 🇧🇼 Botswana 92% 💎 Diamonds 2 🇬🇳 Guinea 87% 🏅 Gold 3 🇲🇱 Mali 85% 🏅 Gold 4 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 84% 🏅 Gold 5 🇸🇷 Suriname 83% 🏅 Gold 6 🇿🇲 Zambia 79% 🪨 Copper 7 🇨🇩 DRC 77% 🪨 Copper 8 🇲🇷 Mauritania 66% 🏅 Gold 9 🇬🇾 Guyana 64% 🏅 Gold 10 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan 62% 🏅 Gold 11 🇳🇦 Namibia 61% 💎 Diamonds 12 🇵🇪 Peru 61% 🪨 Copper Figures rounded. The top mining export per country sourced from The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Meanwhile, in Mali (#3), Burkina Faso (#4), and Suriname (#5) gold is responsible for most of the mining export dependency. However, Guinea (#2) also exports a significant amount of aluminum ore as well. In Zambia (#6) and the DRC (#7) where more than 70% of their exports are from mining, copper plays a crucial role. However Zambia also exports a significant amount of gold, and the DRC is a major cobalt exporter. Of the top 10 countries whose exports are predominantly mining-based, seven are from Africa. It’s also apparent that this kind of commodity dependence is more common in developing economies (wealthy oil nations are exceptions to the rule). And as commodity demand tends to run in boom-bust cycles, it leaves these less-wealthy countries particularly susceptible to price shocks. By Pallavi Rao Graphics/Design: Sam Parker