Preliminary Data on Canada’s Natural Resource Wealth, 2020

Release date: November 1, 2021
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Infographic: Preliminary Data on Canada's Natural Resource Wealth, 2020
Description: Preliminary Data on Canada's Natural Resource Wealth, 2020

The data on natural wealth re­flects reserves of energyNote 1, selected mineralsNote 2 and timberNote 3 (2020 preliminary)

Canada’s natural resource assets totalled $550 billion in 2020


Mineral resources accounted for half of Canada’s total resource wealth
Table summary
This table displays the results of Mineral resources accounted for half of Canada’s total resource wealth. The information is grouped by Resource (appearing as row headers), Percentage share of natural resource wealth and Net present value (in billions of dollars) (appearing as column headers).
Resource Percentage share of natural resource wealth Net present value (in billions of dollars)
Timber 31% $173
Energy 19% $104
Minerals 50% $273

Iron made up 18% of the total resource wealth

Top Energy and Mineral Resources (in billions of dollars):

  • Iron ore: $99
  • Gold: $84
  • Crude Bitumen: $63

The value of energy resources dropped by 77% in 2020, compared with 2019:
Table summary
This table displays the results of The value of energy resources dropped by 77% in 2020. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Resource, Timber, Mineral and Energy, calculated using Net present value (in billions of dollars) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Year Resource
Timber Mineral Energy
Net present value (in billions of dollars)
2011 127 349 769
2012 113 240 552
2013 163 184 541
2014 179 131 774
2015 176 120 83
2016 185 73 84
2017 245 131 386
2018 308 175 412
2019 186 172 460
2020p 173 273 104
p Preliminary

Year-over-year change for total natural resource wealth (2011 to 2020):
Table summary
This table displays the results of Year-over-year change for total natural resource wealth (2011 to 2020):. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Percent change (appearing as column headers).
Year Percent change
2011 to 2012 -27%
2012 to 2013 -2%
2013 to 2014 22%
2014 to 2015 -65%
2015 to 2016 -10%
2016 to 2017 123%
2017 to 2018 18%
2018 to 2019 -9%
2019 to 2020p -33%
p Preliminary

Total resource wealth dropped almost 33% from the previous year

Source: Statistics Canada, Natural Resource Asset Accounts.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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