Lithium
World mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world mine production, 2025 · world total 290,000 metric tons
- Australia 32%
- China 21%
- Chile 19%
- Zimbabwe 9.7%
- Argentina 7.9%
- Brazil 4.1%
- Mali 3.2%
- Canada 1.9%
- All other countries 0.7%
Australia accounted for 32% of world mine production of lithium in 2025 (92,000 metric tons of 290,000 metric tons). World output rose 31% from 2024 to 2025, the fastest growth among the 72 commodities with world totals for both years. The largest reserves are in Chile (25% of the world figure), not in the top producer. Among the main producers, Argentina changed most: +67% on 2024.
Producer log
10 countries listed separately
| Country | Mine production 2024 | Mine production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Reserves | Share of world reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 82,700 | 92,000 | 32% | +11% | 8,400,000 | 23% |
| China | 41,400 | 62,000 | 21% | +50% | 4,600,000 | 12% |
| Chile | 48,900 | 56,000 | 19% | +14% | 9,200,000 | 25% |
| Zimbabwe | 20,000 | 28,000 | 9.7% | +40% | 500,000 | 1.4% |
| Argentina | 13,800 | 23,000 | 7.9% | +67% | 4,400,000 | 12% |
| Brazil | 10,200 | 12,000 | 4.1% | +18% | 540,000 | 1.5% |
| Mali | 770 | 9,400 | 3.2% | +1121% | 370,000 | 1% |
| Canada | 4,820 | 5,600 | 1.9% | +16% | 1,600,000 | 4.3% |
| Portugal | 380 | 380 | 0.1% | 0% | 60,000 | 0.2% |
| United States | withheld | withheld | 4,400,000 | 12% | ||
| Other countries | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2,400,000 | ||
| World total | 222,000 | 290,000 | 100% | +31% | 37,000,000 | 100% |
The world total excludes U.S. output, which USGS withholds.
Output versus reserves
same commodity, two measures
Mine production, 2025
- Australia 32%
- China 21%
- Chile 19%
- Zimbabwe 9.7%
- Argentina 7.9%
- All other countries 10%
Reserves (world 37 million metric tons)
- Chile 25%
- Australia 23%
- China 12%
- United States 12%
- Argentina 12%
- All other countries 16%
Reserves are the part of identified deposits that USGS considers economic to extract now; they change as prices, technology and surveys change. At the 2025 rate, the world reserve figure equals about 128 years of output.
United States
supply, trade and import sources
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
Import sources, 2021–24
- Chile 54%
- Argentina 43%
- Other countries 3%
Estimated end uses worldwide
- Batteries88%
- Ceramics and glass4%
- Lubricating greases2%
- Air treatment1%
- Continuous casting mold flux powders1%
- Medical1%
- Other uses3%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production | W | W | W | W | W |
| Imports for consumption | 2,640 | 3,260 | 3,390 | 3,020 | 3,800 |
| Exports | 1,870 | 2,440 | 1,960 | 1,690 | 2,000 |
| Consumption, apparent | W | W | W | W | W |
| Employment, mine and mill, number | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Lithium chapter (PDF page 126). How to read these figures.