# What to Know About Ukraine: Oil, Minerals & Natural Gas

By Human Events · Published 2022-02-24 · News & Analysis › World · https://humanevents.com/news/what-to-know-about-ukraine-oil-minerals-natural-gas

> Amid the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine, Human Events News compiled a series of fast-facts you should know about the eastern European nation. Ukraine is the second largest country in terms of area in Europe – after Russia – and has a population of over 43 million people, more than Poland by about 6 million. \[…\]

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine, *Human Events News* compiled a series of fast-facts you should know about the eastern European nation.

Ukraine is the [second largest country](https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/ukraine-facts-you-didnt-know-562918.html) in terms of area in Europe - after Russia - and has a population of over 43 million people, more than Poland by about 6 million. Despite its size, Ukraine’s population is smaller than the populations of Germany and France.

Here are a few of the country’s [ranks for oil, minerals and natural gas:](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nilswinkler_for-those-who-ask-why-does-ukraine-matter-activity-6898482176850288640-7WJO)

- 1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores
- 2nd in Europe, 10th in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves
- 2nd in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves)
- 2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
- 2nd in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves
- 3rd in Europe, 13th in the world, in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
- 4th in the world by the total value of natural resources
- 7th in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)