Silver
World mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world mine production, 2025 · world total 26,000 metric tons
- Mexico 24%
- Peru 14%
- China 13%
- Bolivia 5.8%
- Chile 5.4%
- Poland 5%
- Russia 4.6%
- United States 4.2%
- All other countries 24%
Mexico accounted for 24% of world mine production of silver in 2025 (6,300 metric tons of 26,000 metric tons). The largest reserves are in Peru (18% of the world figure), not in the top producer. World reserves equal about 23 years of 2025 output at that rate, the fourth shortest of the 19 commodities where both figures exist. Net imports covered 77% of U.S. silver consumption in 2025.
Producer log
14 countries listed separately
| Country | Mine production 2024 | Mine production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Reserves | Share of world reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 5,780 | 6,300 | 24% | +9% | 37,000 | 6.1% |
| Peru | 3,510 | 3,600 | 14% | +2.6% | 110,000 | 18% |
| China | 3,430 | 3,400 | 13% | −0.9% | 67,000 | 11% |
| Bolivia | 1,490 | 1,500 | 5.8% | +0.7% | 22,000 | 3.6% |
| Chile | 1,200 | 1,400 | 5.4% | +17% | 33,000 | 5.4% |
| Poland | 1,320 | 1,300 | 5% | −1.5% | 59,000 | 9.7% |
| Russia | 1,280 | 1,200 | 4.6% | −6.2% | 92,000 | 15% |
| United States | 1,050 | 1,100 | 4.2% | +4.8% | 23,000 | 3.8% |
| Australia | 1,050 | 1,000 | 3.8% | −4.8% | 91,000 | 15% |
| Argentina | 774 | 800 | 3.1% | +3.4% | 6,500 | 1.1% |
| India | 700 | 800 | 3.1% | +14% | 8,000 | 1.3% |
| Kazakhstan | 850 | 630 | 2.4% | −26% | not available | |
| Canada | 366 | 400 | 1.5% | +9.3% | 4,900 | 0.8% |
| Sweden | 432 | 400 | 1.5% | −7.4% | not available | |
| Other countries | 2,110 | 2,100 | 8.1% | 57,000 | ||
| World total | 25,300 | 26,000 | 100% | +2.8% | 610,000 | 100% |
Output versus reserves
same commodity, two measures
Mine production, 2025
- Mexico 24%
- Peru 14%
- China 13%
- Bolivia 5.8%
- Chile 5.4%
- All other countries 38%
Reserves (world 610,000 metric tons)
- Peru 18%
- Russia 15%
- Australia 15%
- China 11%
- Poland 9.7%
- All other countries 31%
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 23 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
- Mexico 47%
- Canada 18%
- Chile 5%
- Turkey 5%
- Other countries 25%
Estimated end uses in the United States
- Electrical and electronics25%
- Other industrial uses and photography19%
- Net physical investment (bars)18%
- Photovoltaics (PV)15%
- Coins and medals14%
- Jewelry and silverware6%
- Brazing and solder3%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Mine | 1,020 | 1,010 | 1,020 | 1,050 | 1,100 |
| Production — Refinery: Primary | 1,920 | 1,850 | 1,150 | 1,140 | 1,100 |
| Production — Refinery: Secondary (new and old scrap) | 908 | 1,090 | 1,150 | 955 | 1,000 |
| Imports for consumption | 6,160 | 4,490 | 4,950 | 4,430 | 7,600 |
| Exports | 137 | 276 | 73 | 113 | 300 |
| Consumption, apparent | 7,950 | 6,310 | 7,070 | 6,320 | 9,400 |
| Stocks, yearend: Industry | 56 | 55 | 27 | 23 | 25 |
| Stocks, yearend: Treasury | 498 | 498 | 498 | 498 | 498 |
| Stocks, yearend: New York Commodities Exchange—COMEX | 11,064 | 9,299 | 8,643 | 9,910 | 15,000 |
| Employment, mine and mill, number | 1,265 | 1,304 | 1,422 | 1,485 | 1,300 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Silver chapter (PDF page 180). How to read these figures.