Rare-Earth Production by Country 2026

Rare earth production refers to how much of these critical industrial minerals each country produces in a given year, measured in metric tons. The 2024 data, the latest data available in 2026, shows that just a handful of countries are responsible for most of the world’s output. This imbalance exists not because rare earths are found only in a few places, but because mining, processing, and environmental requirements make large-scale production difficult in many countries.

Countries With the Highest Rare Earth Production

China dominates global rare earth production by a wide margin, producing more than all other countries combined in 2024, at 270,000 metric tons. The United States (45,000 metric tons) ranks a distant second, followed by Myanmar (31,000 metric tons), revealing a sharp drop-off after the top producer. Beyond these leaders, production levels fall quickly, with most countries contributing relatively small volumes to global supply.

Why Rare Earth Production Is So Concentrated

When it comes to rare earth production, it is concentrated in a handful of countries because mining alone is not enough. These minerals require complex and costly processing before they can be used in manufacturing. Many countries have deposits but lack the infrastructure, technical expertise, or regulatory capacity to refine rare earths on a large scale. Consequently, countries that have already invested heavily in processing facilities and long-established supply chains tend to dominate the industry.