From electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, to satellites, rare earth elements are the bedrock of the technologies that define modern life.

Venezuela’s oil industry has begun a cautious recovery after nearly a decade of steep decline, but production levels remain far below their former peak.

The world’s oil wealth is highly concentrated as a relatively small group of countries controls the majority of known crude resources, shaping energy markets, geopolitics and long-term economic planning far beyond their borders.

Venezuela leads the world in proven oil reserves in 2025 with an astonishing 303 billion barrels, followed closely by Saudi Arabia at 267 billion barrels, with Iran securing third place at 209 billion barrels.

The 2025 edition of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries provides comprehensive data on the global distribution of rare earth elements (REEs), which are vital for numerous high-tech applications.

As a symbol of wealth and power, gold has for centuries played a crucial role in the global economy.