People who are interested in the lithium sector and investing in lithium stocks are often curious about which countries are the top producers of the battery metal, but they can’t stop to consider the top lithium reserves by country.
Of course, major lithium producing countries are home to a large number of lithium companies. Many of the world’s top lithium producers also have significant reserves, and their reserves provide an idea of how much room for growth those countries have. Also, countries with high reserves may become more important lithium players in the future.
Lithium, together with battery metals such as cobalt and nickel, is a key raw material in lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles and the energy storage sector.
Global lithium production and reserves have increased significantly over the past decade as companies have worked to meet demand for batteries. While oversupply led to lower prices and some mines cutting production, the lithium market is seeing a turnaround in 2026.
Paul Lusty of FastMarkets wrote in an article, “Lithium prices have moved ahead of fundamentals due to a backdrop of speculative buying, bullish sentiment and heightened geopolitical risk. Yet we may finally see demand catch up with the increase in supply seen in recent years.” January 2026 update.
On that note, here’s an overview of lithium reserves by country, focusing on the five countries hosting the world’s largest lithium reserves. Lithium reserves data is based on the US Geological Survey Latest Mineral Commodity Summary And refers to the lithium content contained in economic reserves.
Total reserves of lithium worldwide by 2025 are estimated at 37 million metric tons, up from the 30 million metric tons reported in 2024 due to increases in reserves in many countries. These gains were also seen in global lithium resources, detailed after the reserves list.
Top lithium reserves by country
1. Chile
Lithium Reserves: 9.2 million metric tons
Chile has the world’s largest lithium reserves at 9.2 million metric tons, about 25 percent of the global lithium reserve base, most of which is located in its Salar de Atacama. Chile is a member of the famous Lithium Triangle along with Argentina and Bolivia.
Chile was the second largest producer of lithium with 56,000 metric tons in 2025. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM) and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) are major lithium producers in Chile, operating in the Salar de Atacama.
According to the Baker InstituteChile is tough legal framework Nearby mining concessions have prevented the lithium powerhouse from gaining as large a share of the global lithium market as this mineral giant.
In late April 2023, Gabriel Boric, then President of Chile, Partial nationalization plan announced The country’s lithium industry to boost the economy and protect the environment.
Chile’s state-owned mining company Codelco has negotiated a majority stake in both SQM and Albemarle’s lithium assets in the country, and will have controlling interests in all operations in that salar going forward.
In early 2025, Chile received seven bids Lithium Operating Contract (CEOL) in six salt flats. Since then, the country has awarded CEOL to several partnerships of Chile’s national miners with public companies such as Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO, NYSE: RIO, LSE: RIO). Salares Altandinos And Marikunga Projects, CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL) and Lithium Chile (TSXV:LITH, OTCPL:LTMCF) for the Laguna Verde Project. Coipasa Project.
2. Australia
Lithium Reserves: 8.4 million metric tons
Australia’s lithium reserves are 8.4 million metric tonnes, the majority of which is found in Western Australia. Unlike lithium reserves found in Chile and Argentina, Australia’s lithium reserves are in the form of hard-rock spodumene deposits.
Although it is second only to Chile in terms of reserves, Australia was the world’s largest lithium producer with 92,000 metric tons in 2025, with several operational lithium mines in the country.
Its most significant is the Greenbush lithium mine, operated by Talison Lithium, a joint venture involving lithium producer Tianqi Lithium (OTCPK:TQLCF,SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696), Australian miner IGO (ASX:IGO,OTCPL:IPGDF) and Albemarle. Greenbush has been producing lithium since 1985.
While Western Australia dominates lithium exploration, new research highlights untapped potential in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Published in “Earth System Science Data” 2023 study Geoscience – led by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia – has mapped areas of high lithium density, indicating vast opportunities for the growing battery metal market.
“We have developed the first map of lithium in Australian soils that identifies areas of high concentrations,” said senior author Professor Budiman Minasni. “The map agrees with existing mines and highlights areas that could be potential future lithium sources.”
3. China
Lithium Reserves: 4.6 million metric tons
China has lithium reserves of 4.6 million metric tons. there is one in the country Mix of deposit types; Lithium brines make up most of its reserves, but it also has spodumene and lepidolite hard-rock reserves.
In 2025, China is projected to produce 62,000 metric tons of the mineral, up more than 20,000 metric tons from the previous year. According to the USGS, there are nine hard-rock and six brine operations in the country that have contributed significant production, as well as other smaller operations.
The Asian country is also the world’s top importer of lithium, with Australia its largest supplier. Lithium use is high in China due to the electronics manufacturing and electric vehicle industries. It also produces most of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and hosts most of the world’s lithium-processing facilities.
In early 2025, Chinese media informed The country has significantly increased its lithium ore reserves, claiming national deposits have now increased from 6 percent to 16.5 percent of global resources.
This growth is partly attributed to the discovery of a 2,800 km lithium belt in the western regions, with proven reserves in excess of 6.5 million tonnes of lithium ore and probable resources in excess of 30 million tonnes. Additionally, progress in extracting lithium from salt lakes and mica has further expanded China’s reserves.
4. Argentina
Lithium Reserves: 4.4 million metric tons
Argentina, part of the Lithium Triangle, ranks fourth in terms of global lithium reserves with 4.4 million metric tons. The country is also the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer, expected to produce 23,000 metric tons of the metal in 2025.
Argentina hosts nine lithium operations and 83 lithium mining projects, FastMarkets informed In March 2026. The country’s most important operations include Cauchary-Olaroz in Jujuy, a joint venture between Lithium Argentina (TSX: LAR) and Ganfeng Lithium (HKEX: 1772, OTCPL: GNEF), and Fenix in Catamarca, which is owned by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO, NYSE: RIO, LSE: RIO).
In 2025, Argentina’s Miley Administration Pur: The Incentive Mechanism for Large Investments, or RIGI, which provides legal safeguards and stability measures to encourage large investments in the country. Mining projects that meet its requirements are eligible for the program.
Mining major Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) is currently pursuing the expansion of lithium extraction at its operations on Argentina’s Rincon Salar. allowed Under RIGI framework in March 2025. It will increase lithium carbonate capacity from 3,000 to 60,000 metric tons, with production expected to begin in 2028, followed by a three-year ramp up period to full capacity.
Argosy Minerals (ASX:AGY,OTCPL:ARYMF) is another lithium company expanding its operations, aiming to increase its annual lithium carbonate production at Rincon Salar from 2,000 to 12,000 metric tons. the expansion was green signal In 2024.
4. United States of America
Lithium Reserves: 4.4 million metric tons
The United States has 4.4 million metric tons of lithium reserves, a number that has increased significantly from the 1.8 million metric tons reported in 2024.
While US lithium production numbers are withheld by the USGS, the country produces lithium from only one mine, Albemarle’s Silver Peak in Nevada. it Production 1,000 metric tons of lithium in 2025.
Silver Peak has been in operation since the 1960s, and consists of lithium brine operations, a lithium carbonate processing plant, and an anhydrous lithium hydroxide plant. In February 2026, Albemarle completed federal permit For expansion of operations under FAST-41 Project Dashboard.
The Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada is currently under construction and is expected to enter commercial production in 2028, with Phase 1 lithium carbonate production of 40,000 metric tons per year. Thakar Pass hosts one potential reserve 4.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent to 269.5 million metric tons at a grade of 3,180 parts per million.
The project is a 62/38 joint venture between Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) and General Motors (NYSE:GM).
Other lithium reserves by country
While Chile, Australia, Argentina and China are home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, other countries also have significant quantities of the metal. Here’s a quick look at these other nations:
- Canada – 1,600,000 metric tons
- Brazil – 540,000 metric tons
- Zimbabwe – 500,000 metric tons
- Mali – 370,000 metric tons
- Portugal – 60,000 metric tons
As the lithium industry continues to grow, production has increased, and many of these countries with high reserves are also becoming significant producers.
Top Lithium Resources by Country
The list of top 10 countries based on measured and indicated lithium resources varies significantly from countries with top reserves. This category is broad as it also includes unproven and unprofitable lithium deposits.
According to the USGS report, “Due to continued exploration, measured and indicated lithium resources worldwide have increased significantly and total approximately 150 million metric tons.”
The top 10 countries by lithium resources are:
- United States – 30 million metric tons
- Argentina – 28 million metric tons
- Bolivia – 23 million metric tons
- Chile – 13 million metric tons
- Australia – 10 million metric tons
- China – 10 million metric tons
- Germany – 8.9 million metric tons
- Canada – 8.1 million metric tons
- Democratic Republic of the Congo – 3 million metric tons
- Mexico – 1.7 million metric tons
FAQ for Lithium Stockpile
Where are the best lithium reserves in the world?
Chile has the largest reserves of lithium, and the three countries that form the Lithium Triangle – Argentina, Bolivia and Chile – together account for a large share of the world’s lithium reserves.
What are the largest reserves of lithium in Europe?
Portugal has the largest lithium reserves in Europe at 60,000 metric tons. The southern European country is also Europe’s top lithium miner, expected to produce 380 metric tons of lithium in 2025.
Germany leads in terms of lithium resources with 8.9 million metric tons.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, do not have any direct investment interest in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: CleanTech Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid content.
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