Finland tops annual global mining survey rankings, Ethiopia ranks last

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Jul 29, 2025, 05:00 ET

VANCOUVER, BC, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Finland is the most attractive jurisdiction in the world for mining investment, followed by Nevada and Alaska, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank.

"The Fraser Institute's mining survey is the most comprehensive report on not just a jurisdiction's mineral potential, but also government policies that either attract or discourage mining investors," said Elmira Aliakbari, director of the Fraser Institute's Centre for Natural Resource Studies and co-author of the report.

This year's report ranks 82 jurisdictions around the world based on their geologic attractiveness (minerals and metals) and government policies that encourage or deter exploration and investment.

Rounding out the top five jurisdictions on the overall Investment Attractiveness Index, which includes both mineral endowment and policy, are Wyoming and Arizona.

The least-attractive jurisdiction on the Investment Attractiveness Index is Ethiopia, followed by Suriname, Niger, Nova Scotia, and Mozambique.

On policies alone, the Republic of Ireland ranks first, while Bolivia ranked last.

"A sound, predictable regulatory regime coupled with competitive fiscal policies make a jurisdiction attractive to investors," Aliakbari said.

"Policymakers across the globe should understand that mineral deposits alone are not enough to attract investment."

Investment Attractiveness Index

Most attractive jurisdictions for mining investment	Least attractive jurisdictions for mining investment
1) Finland	82) Ethiopia
2) Nevada	81) Suriname
3) Alaska	80) Niger
4) Wyoming	79) Nova Scotia
5) Arizona	78) Mozambique
6) Sweden	77) Madagascar
7) Saskatchewan	76) Bolivia
8) Newfoundland & Labrador	75) Dominican Republic
9) Guyana	74) Guinea (Conakry)
10) Norway	73) Minnesota

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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

SOURCE The Fraser Institute