Global Lithium Mining Landscape: Where the World's Largest Battery Metal Reserves Are Concentrated

The surge in electric vehicle production and renewable energy storage demand is reshaping the global lithium mining sector. Industry analysts forecast that lithium-ion battery demand will accelerate dramatically in 2025, with EV and energy storage systems (ESS) projected to increase consumption by over 30 percent year-on-year. This explosive growth underscores why understanding the geographical distribution of lithium deposits matters more than ever.

As of 2024, global lithium reserves total approximately 30 million metric tons of contained lithium content. However, these resources are heavily concentrated in just a handful of countries. Four nations dominate the landscape, controlling the majority of the world’s economically viable lithium mining operations and reserves.

Chile: The Lithium Mining Powerhouse

Chile commands 9.3 million metric tons of lithium reserves, more than 30 percent of the world’s total. The country’s Salar de Atacama salt flat represents the crown jewel of global lithium mining infrastructure. While Chile ranked as the world’s second-largest lithium producer in 2024 with 44,000 metric tons of output, its reserve base positions it as the industry’s long-term anchor.

The nation’s lithium mining sector underwent significant transformation following President Gabriel Boric’s 2023 announcement to partially nationalize the industry. State-owned mining company Codelco has secured larger stakes in major lithium operations, with plans for controlling interests across Atacama’s mining concessions. This strategic consolidation reflects Chile’s commitment to capturing more value from its lithium resources.

Recent developments accelerated in early 2025, when the Chilean government received seven bids for lithium operation contracts across six salt flats. Winners will be announced in March 2025, signaling renewed momentum in the country’s lithium mining sector despite prior regulatory constraints that limited its global market share expansion.

Australia: The Production Leader with Abundant Hard-Rock Deposits

Australia holds 7 million metric tons of lithium reserves, primarily concentrated in Western Australia. Unlike Chile’s brine-based deposits, Australia’s lithium mining operations focus on hard-rock spodumene mining. The country emerged as the world’s leading lithium producer in 2024, despite holding fewer total reserves than Chile.

The Greenbushes mine, operated through a joint venture involving Tianqi Lithium and Albemarle, stands as a flagship lithium mining asset. Producing continuously since 1985, Greenbushes demonstrates the durability of Australia’s hard-rock lithium mining model. However, recent price declines prompted several producers to temporarily curtail operations and development projects.

Emerging research suggests untapped potential beyond Western Australia. A 2023 University of Sydney study mapping lithium density in Australian soils identified promising regions in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. These discoveries could unlock new lithium mining frontiers and support long-term supply diversification.

Argentina: The Rising Lithium Mining Competitor

Argentina rounds out the top three with 4 million metric tons of proven reserves, positioning itself as the world’s fourth-largest lithium producer at 18,000 metric tons annually. Together with Chile and Bolivia, Argentina forms the “Lithium Triangle,” collectively holding more than half of global reserves.

The Argentine government committed US$4.2 billion to lithium mining development in May 2022. Progress accelerated in 2024 when the government approved Argosy Minerals’ expansion at Rincon salar, increasing lithium carbonate production capacity from 2,000 to 12,000 metric tons annually.

Late 2024 brought a major milestone: Rio Tinto announced a US$2.5 billion lithium mining investment to expand Rincon operations from 3,000 to 60,000 metric tons of annual capacity by 2028. This expansion underscores Argentina’s emergence as a serious competitor in global lithium mining, with approximately 50 advanced mining projects underway.

China: The Processing Giant with Growing Mining Ambitions

China possesses 3 million metric tons of lithium reserves through mixed deposit types including brines, spodumene and lepidolite. The country produced 41,000 metric tons in 2024, up 5,300 metric tons year-over-year. Notably, despite significant lithium mining output, China still imports most of its lithium from Australia for domestic battery manufacturing.

China’s dominance extends beyond mining—the country produces the majority of world’s lithium-ion batteries and hosts most global lithium-processing facilities. This vertical integration makes China the industry’s de facto control center. In October 2024, the US State Department accused China of predatory pricing in lithium markets, flooding supplies to eliminate non-Chinese competition.

However, early 2025 reports indicate China has dramatically expanded its lithium mining resource base. Chinese authorities claim proven reserves now represent 16.5 percent of global resources, up from 6 percent, attributed to discovering a 2,800-kilometer lithium belt in western regions with proven reserves exceeding 6.5 million tons and potential resources surpassing 30 million tons. Advances in extracting lithium from salt lakes and mica deposits further bolster China’s mining capabilities.

Beyond the Big Four: Secondary Lithium Mining Regions

While the top four nations dominate, other regions maintain significant lithium mining presence:

• United States — 1,800,000 MT
• Canada — 1,200,000 MT
• Zimbabwe — 480,000 MT
• Brazil — 390,000 MT
• Portugal — 60,000 MT (Europe’s largest)

Portugal produced 380 metric tons in 2024, establishing itself as Europe’s primary lithium mining hub. As battery demand accelerates, these secondary producers increasingly participate in global lithium mining expansion.

The Lithium Mining Outlook

The concentration of global lithium reserves in Chile, Australia, Argentina and China creates both opportunities and strategic challenges for the battery and EV industries. With lithium-ion battery demand projected to surge 30 percent-plus annually through 2025, lithium mining capacity will face mounting pressure. Countries with substantial reserves and operational mining infrastructure stand to capture significant value from the energy transition. Simultaneously, geopolitical dynamics—from China’s market dominance to Chile’s nationalization efforts to new entrants scaling operations—will shape lithium mining’s competitive landscape for years ahead.