The United States was estimated to have had lignite resources amounting to 1.37 trillion metric tons in 2022, making it the country with the largest lignite resources worldwide. Russia ranked second, with lignite resources totaling 541.4 billion metric tons.
Lignite is also known as brown coal and is a soft sedimentary rock formed by compressed peat.
Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country
(in million metric tons)
Characteristic
Resources in million metric tons
United States
1,368,124
Russia
541,353
Australia
407,430
China
323,849
Poland
222,392
Vietnam
199,876
Pakistan
176,739
Mongolia
119,426
Canada
118,270
India
38,830
Germany
36,500
Indonesia
22,389
Serbia
13,074
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* Soft brown coal resources also include sub-bituminous coals.
BGR (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe) is the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Commodities.
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BGR. (February 26, 2024). Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/
BGR. "Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country (in million metric tons)." Chart. February 26, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/
BGR. (2024). Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/
BGR. "Resources of Lignite Worldwide in 2022, by Leading Country (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Feb 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/
BGR, Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/ (last visited May 12, 2025)
Resources of lignite worldwide in 2022, by leading country (in million metric tons) [Graph], BGR, February 26, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264777/top-countries-based-on-soft-brown-coal-resources/
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