Soda Ash Reserves by Country
One country holds nearly 95% of the listed soda ash reserves — and its reported figure has not changed in the eight-year series. The statistics below combine eight editions of the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (2019-2026), covering estimated quantities that can be economically extracted. The series tracks potentially recoverable material, not the amount mined in a given year. Listed reserves totaled 24,263,000 thousand metric tons in 2025. The listed total excludes 280,000 thousand metric tons reported under Other countries. USGS puts the rounded world total at 25,000,000 thousand metric tons.
The United States reports 23,000,000 thousand metric tons — more than eighteen times Türkiye (840,000), Ethiopia (400,000), Botswana (16,000) and Kenya (7,000) combined. The other four together hold barely one-twentieth of the table. Four of five 2025 values date from 2019 or earlier. The United States has reported 23,000,000 thousand metric tons in every year shown. Kenya has likewise remained at 7,000, while Ethiopia has held 400,000 since 2019. None of the five countries changed its reported reserve value between 2024 and 2025, so the ranking was unchanged. Botswana reported 400,000 thousand metric tons from 2018 through 2022, then 16,000 for 2023 — a loss of 384,000 (-96.0%). The change moved Botswana from third to fourth in the 2023 ranking. It has held 16,000 since, now barely double Kenya's 7,000. Türkiye reported 840,000 thousand metric tons in 2018, 900,000 in 2019, then 1,650,000 for 2020 — its highest figure in the series — before falling back to 880,000 and settling at 840,000 from 2023 onward. It was the only year in which a country other than the United States exceeded 1,000,000 thousand metric tons. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, with 2025 values estimated. Units are thousand metric tons of sodium carbonate, 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.
Soda Ash Reserves by Country
1
23,000,000
2
840,000
3
400,000
4
16,000
5
7,000
Near-total dominance, never adjusted
Botswana's sharp decline
Türkiye's 2020 spike
Soda Ash Reserves by Country
#
1
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
23,000,000
2
840,000
900,000
1,650,000
880,000
880,000
840,000
840,000
840,000
3
-
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
4
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
400,000
16,000
16,000
16,000
5
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are soda ash reserves?
Soda ash reserves are estimated quantities of sodium carbonate that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, measured in thousand metric tons. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
Which countries hold the most soda ash reserves?
The United States (23,000,000 thousand metric tons) and Türkiye (840,000) reported the largest 2025 values, followed by Ethiopia (400,000).
What happened to Botswana's reserves?
Botswana's reported estimate fell from 400,000 to 16,000 thousand metric tons (-96.0%) for 2023 and has held that figure since. The table reports the 2025 estimate.
When did Türkiye peak?
In 2020 at 1,650,000 thousand metric tons — its highest figure in the series — before settling at 840,000.
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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