Lithium, often referred to as “white gold,” is a key component in the batteries that power our phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. But where does it actually come from? The following is a list of the top 10 countries by lithium reserves.
Top 10 Countries by Lithium Reserves
| Rank | Country | Lithium Reserves (MT) (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chile | 9.3 million |
| 2 | Australia | 7 million |
| 3 | Argentina | 4 million |
| 4 | China | 3 million |
| 5 | United States | 1.8 million |
| 6 | Canada | 1.2 million |
| 7 | Zimbabwe | 480,000 |
| 8 | Brazil | 390,000 |
| 9 | Portugal | 60,000 |
| 10 | Namibia | 14,000 |
Source: USGS
(Also read: Top 10 Most Forested Countries in the World)
Key points
• Chile holds the largest lithium reserves in the world, followed by Australia and Argentina.
• A large share of the world’s lithium resources is concentrated in a small geographic region of the Andes Mountains. Known as the Lithium Triangle, it spans parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The high-altitude salt flats, or salars, found here enable relatively low-cost lithium extraction through solar evaporation.
• These figures focus on proved reserves. Countries like Bolivia have much higher resources, but they are not yet classified as active reserves due to a lack of infrastructure.
• Mineral resources are the total amounts of a mineral that have been identified or are believed to exist in the Earth’s crust, whether or not they can currently be mined at a profit. In contrast, mineral reserves represent the portion of those resources that can be extracted in a viable and lawful manner using present-day technology, market conditions, and infrastructure. In short, reserves form part of the overall resource base, and with improvements in technology or changes in prices, some resources may eventually be reclassified as reserves.