Asbestos Reserves by Country
Kazakhstan appears in the asbestos table for the first time in 2025 — with 20,000,000 metric tons, immediately the second-largest figure listed. The statistics below combine eight editions of the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (2019-2026), covering estimated quantities that can be economically extracted. Listed reserves totaled 148,100,000 metric tons in 2025. USGS reports a world reserve total of 150,000,000 metric tons, rounded in the source.
Russia's 110,000,000 metric tons exceed the other three countries combined (38,100,000) nearly threefold. Kazakhstan (20,000,000), Brazil (11,000,000) and China (7,100,000) trail well behind the 110,000,000 reported by Russia. The 2025 ranking runs 7,100,000 to 110,000,000 — more than a fifteenfold spread. China reported 96,000,000 metric tons in 2018 and 95,000,000 through 2021, then dropped to 15,000,000 in 2022, recovered to 18,000,000 for two years, and fell again to 7,100,000 in 2025. Across the full span the reported figure shrank by more than nine-tenths. The 2025 step alone removed 10,900,000 metric tons (-60.6%) — almost as much as Brazil's entire reserves of 11,000,000. Kazakhstan's first reported value, 20,000,000 metric tons, is larger than Brazil's and China's figures combined. At about 13.5% of the listed total, a country that did not appear in any earlier edition now holds more than one-eighth of it. Russia has reported 110,000,000 metric tons throughout the eight-year series. While China's figure fell sharply, dropping from 96,000,000 to 15,000,000, and Kazakhstan arrived from nowhere, the country holding three-quarters of the listed stock did not adjust its estimate once. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, with 2025 values estimated. Units are metric tons, as reported by USGS. Empty means the source reported no value; 0 means the source reports zero. The source’s world total, where published, may be rounded, approximate, a lower bound, or a textual estimate, so shares are computed against the sum of the listed countries. Reserves and production are different measures and should not be combined without equalizing units.
Asbestos Reserves by Country
1
110,000,000
2
20,000,000
3
11,000,000
4
7,100,000
China's long staircase down
A debut straight into second place
The giant that never moves
Asbestos Reserves by Country
#
1
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
110,000,000
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,000,000
3
12,000,000
12,000,000
11,000,000
11,000,000
11,000,000
11,000,000
11,000,000
11,000,000
4
96,000,000
96,000,000
95,000,000
95,000,000
15,000,000
18,000,000
18,000,000
7,100,000
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are asbestos reserves?
Asbestos reserves are estimated quantities of asbestos that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, in metric tons. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
Which countries hold the most asbestos reserves?
Russia (110,000,000 metric tons) and Kazakhstan (20,000,000) reported the largest 2025 values, followed by Brazil (11,000,000).
How much did China's reserves fall in 2025?
China's reported estimate fell from 18,000,000 to 7,100,000 metric tons, a decrease of 10,900,000 metric tons or 60.6%.
When did Kazakhstan first report?
In 2025, with 20,000,000 metric tons — instantly the second-largest figure in the table.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 15.09.2026https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries
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