This chart shows the bulk elemental composition of the entire planet Earth by mass, from crust to core. Unlike the oxygen-rich crust, the whole Earth is dominated by iron, concentrated in its dense metallic core.
About: Bulk Composition of Planet Earth by Mass
Overview of the data behind this chartAI Insight
Measured as a whole planet, Earth is an iron world: iron makes up 32.1% of its total mass, narrowly ahead of oxygen at 30.1%. This is a striking reversal of the crust, where oxygen dominates and iron ranks only fourth. The difference reflects planetary structure, most of Earth's iron sank early to form the dense metallic core, while lighter, oxygen-bearing silicate minerals rose to build the mantle and crust. Silicon (15.1%) and magnesium (13.9%) are the principal mantle elements, followed by sulfur, nickel, calcium and aluminium. Just four elements, iron, oxygen, silicon and magnesium, account for over 90% of the planet's entire mass. As with the crust beneath our feet, an entire world turns out to be built from remarkably few chemical ingredients.
Key Findings
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Bulk Composition of Planet Earth by Mass
Data Insights
Numbers, trends & sources behind this chartCategory Rankings
Share of Earth's Total Mass (%) · All Time| # | Category | All Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Iron | 32.10 |
| 🥈 | Oxygen | 30.10 |
| 🥉 | Silicon | 15.10 |
| 4 | Magnesium | 13.90 |
| 5 | Sulfur | 2.90 |
| 6 | Nickel | 1.80 |
| 7 | Calcium | 1.50 |
| 8 | Aluminium | 1.40 |
What This Data Shows
Auto-generated trend summaries per categoryFull Data Table
8 records across 1 yearData Sources & References
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