Potash Reserves by Country (Recoverable Ore)
Laos doubled its reported figure in 2023, then stopped reporting a recoverable-ore reserve figure. The dataset draws on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026 and reports estimated quantities that can be economically extracted. These reserves measure recoverable ore, not the tonnage mined in a given year. The ranking covers 5 countries, 4 with reported 2025 values, and lists 8,780,000 thousand metric tons in 2025. USGS also reports 1,500,000 thousand metric tons under Other countries.
Canada (4,500,000 thousand metric tons) leads Belarus (3,300,000), with the pair holding about 88.8% of the listed total between them. The United States (970,000) is a distant third; Brazil (10,000) barely registers beside it. Laos's last reported figure (1,000,000 thousand metric tons) exceeds the entire 2025 reserve figure for the United States. Laos reported 500,000 thousand metric tons from 2020 through 2022, doubled to 1,000,000 for 2023, and has reported nothing since. At its peak it was the table's third holder, ahead of the United States; in 2025 it contributes nothing to the listed total. Its 2023 increase briefly moved Laos into third place, but the country has had no recoverable-ore reserve figure in either of the two subsequent editions. Canada has held 4,500,000 thousand metric tons since 2020, and Belarus (3,300,000), the United States (970,000) and Brazil (10,000) have reported identical figures in all eight years shown. All four reported 2025 values match 2024 exactly, leaving the latest ranking unchanged. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, with 2025 values estimated. Units are thousand metric tons of recoverable ore, exactly as reported. This page measures recoverable ore; K2O equivalent is published as a separate series and the two are not interchangeable. 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.
Potash Reserves by Country (Recoverable Ore)
Year
1
4,500,000
2025
2
3,300,000
2025
3
1,000,000
2023
4
970,000
2025
5
10,000
2025
Laos doubles, then stops reporting
The unchanging four
Potash Reserves by Country (Recoverable Ore)
#
1
4,900,000
4,200,000
4,500,000
4,500,000
4,500,000
4,500,000
4,500,000
4,500,000
2
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3,300,000
3
970,000
970,000
970,000
970,000
970,000
970,000
970,000
970,000
4
-
-
500,000
500,000
500,000
1,000,000
-
-
5
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are recoverable potash ore reserves?
Potash reserves are estimated quantities of potash that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, in thousand metric tons of recoverable ore. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
Which countries hold the most recoverable potash ore reserves?
Canada (4,500,000 thousand metric tons) and Belarus (3,300,000) reported the largest 2025 values, followed by the United States (970,000).
What happened to Laos's reported reserve figure?
Laos doubled from 500,000 to 1,000,000 thousand metric tons for 2023 and has reported nothing since. An empty cell means not reported, not zero.
How concentrated are the 2025 recoverable-ore reserves?
Canada and Belarus together account for about 88.8% of the 8,780,000 thousand metric tons listed for 2025.
Does USGS publish a world total?
Yes, as a lower bound: more than 10,000,000 thousand metric tons.
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: 16.09.2026https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries
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