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Lithium Production 2022

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What Countries Have Lithium in 2024?

Bolivia

The largest natural deposit of lithium is in the South American country of Bolivia. There is an estimated 21 million tons of lithium, accounting for nearly 25% of the entire world's supply. The single-largest deposit of lithium is located in the Salar de Uyuni salt flat, which is so big it can be seen from space. Most of the lithium reserves in Bolivia remain untouched and undeveloped. However, increased interest in lithium may change the status of these reserves. Bolivia has extensive plans to commercialize the lithium resources creating a booming lithium industry in the country. Ongoing political instability has postponed these plans.

Argentina

Bordering Bolivia, Argentina has the second-largest lithium reserve, estimated to be close to 17 million tons. These reserves are also located in salt flats and utilize an evaporation technique to extract the high-demand material. The Salar del Hombre Muerto salt flat is the most famous resource in Argentina. There has been growing interest from foreign countries to commercialize extraction in Argentina, but the political and economic instability within the country has halted some would-be investors. Still, Argentina accounts for the third-largest lithium supplier, producing over 6,000 tons in 2019 alone.

Chile

Another South American country, Chile, owns nearly 9 million tons of lithium. Chile has created a successful mining industry, unlike the other two South American countries with lithium reserves. In 2019, Chile produced the second-most lithium in the world, extracting over 18,000 tons. The ideal climate in Chile makes extraction more affordable, and easy access to the Pacific Ocean can help transport the resource throughout the world. The primary lithium mine in Chile is the Salar de Atacama salt flat, where both US-based and local Chile operations are underway.

United States

The US owns the fourth-largest lithium reserve, estimated to be about 6.8 million tons. Although large lithium deposits are found in the United States, extraction and export efforts are minimal. In 2019 there was only one extraction project currently underway in the United States, located in Nevada. The majority of the lithium used in the United States is imported from either Chile or Argentina. Elon Musk has unveiled large scale plans to set up a lithium mine in Nevada in the future.

Australia

In Australia, there are approximately 6.3 million tons of lithium, and it follows that the country is the largest lithium producer in the world. In a single year, Australia produced 42,000 tons of lithium, far outpacing Chile's 18,000 tons. The largest lithium mine in Australia is the Greenbushes lithium mine, a collaboration between Albermarle and Tianqi Lithium.

China

China has an estimated 4.5 million tons of lithium reserves and, in 2019, produced 7,500 tons of metal. China controls nearly 80% of the lithium in the world, accounting for 77% of cell phone capacity and 60% of the world's component manufacturing for electronics. Although China has access to large lithium mines, the majority of the lithium used for manufacturing comes from Australia.

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Country
Lithium Production 2022 (tons)
Lithium Production 2021 (tons)
Lithium Production 2020 (tons)
Lithium Production 2019 (tons)
Lithium Production 2018 (tons)
% of Total Lithium Production
Lithium Resources (tons)
Lithium Reserves (tons)
Australia61,00055,30039,70045,00051,00052%7,900,0006,200,000
Chile39,00028,30021,50019,30016,00025%11,000,0009,300,000
China19,00014,00013,30010,8008,00013%6,800,0002,000,000
Argentina6,2005,9705,9006,3006,2006%20,000,0002,700,000
Brazil2,2001,7001,4202,4006001%730,000250,000
Zimbabwe8007104171,2001,6001%690,000310,000
Portugal6009008009008001%270,00060,000
Canada5002002,4000%2,900,000930,000
United States5,0001%12,000,0001,000,000
Russia0%1,000,000
Mexico0%1,700,000
DR Congo0%3,000,000
Germany0%3,200,000
Spain0%320,000
Ghana0%180,000
Peru0%880,000
Mali0%840,000
Kazakhstan0%50,000
Bolivia5403503500%21,000,000
Czech Republic0%1,300,000
Austria0%60,000
Serbia0%1,200,000
Finland0%68,000
Namibia5000%230,000
Total129,300112,42083,38786,45087,1000%97,318,00022,750,000
showing: 24 rows

How many countries have lithium reserves?

Chile has the largest lithium reserves at 9.2 million tons. Australia, Argentina, and China have large lithium reserves and also have large lithium reserves.

Frequently Asked Questions