Copper - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A conductive metal used in power grids, buildings, electronics and transport.The tables present mine production, refinery output and reserves. Mining and refining show the geography of two successive stages of copper supply.
Copper Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (thousand metric tons)
Copper Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chile | 5,730 | 5,620 | 5,330 | 5,000 | 5,510 | 5,300 | 23.0% | -7.5% |
| #2 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,600 | 1,740 | 2,350 | 2,500 | 2,990 | 3,200 | 13.9% | +100.0% |
| #3 | Peru | 2,150 | 2,300 | 2,450 | 2,600 | 2,740 | 2,700 | 11.7% | +25.6% |
| #4 | China | 1,720 | 1,910 | 1,940 | 1,700 | 1,840 | 1,800 | 7.8% | +4.7% |
| #5 | Russia | 810 | 940 | 936 | 910 | 1,020 | 1,300 | 5.7% | +60.5% |
| #6 | United States | 1,200 | 1,230 | 1,230 | 1,100 | 1,050 | 1,000 | 4.3% | -16.7% |
| #7 | Zambia | 853 | 842 | 797 | 760 | 823 | 940 | 4.1% | +10.2% |
| #8 | Australia | 885 | 813 | 819 | 810 | 765 | 730 | 3.2% | -17.5% |
| #9 | Indonesia | 505 | 731 | 941 | 840 | 1,010 | 710 | 3.1% | +40.6% |
| #9 | Kazakhstan | 552 | 510 | 593 | 600 | 724 | 710 | 3.1% | +28.6% |
| #11 | Mexico | 733 | 734 | 754 | 750 | 717 | 690 | 3.0% | -5.9% |
| #12 | Canada | 585 | 550 | 520 | 480 | 515 | 500 | 2.2% | -14.5% |
| #13 | Poland | 393 | 391 | 393 | 400 | 400 | 410 | 1.8% | +4.3% |
| #14 | India | - | - | - | - | 27 | 23 | 0.1% | - |
| - | World Total | 20,600 | 21,200 | 21,900 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 100.0% | +11.7% |
Copper Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: thousand metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 42.6 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chile | 180,000 | 18.4% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Australia | 100,000 | 10.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 27 million tons. |
| #3 | Peru | 85,000 | 8.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 80,000 | 8.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Russia | 80,000 | 8.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | Mexico | 53,000 | 5.4% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | United States | 47,000 | 4.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | China | 41,000 | 4.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Poland | 33,000 | 3.4% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Indonesia | 21,000 | 2.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Zambia | 21,000 | 2.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #12 | Kazakhstan | 20,000 | 2.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #13 | Canada | 7,000 | 0.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #14 | India | 2,200 | 0.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 980,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper: Production: Mine, recoverable | thousand metric tons | 1,230 | 1,230 | 1,130 | 1,050 | 1,000 |
| Copper: Production, Refinery: Primary (from ore) | thousand metric tons | 931 | 917 | 843 | 882 | 790 |
| Copper: Production, Refinery: Secondary (from scrap) | thousand metric tons | 49 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 60 |
| Copper: Copper recovered from old (post-consumer) scrap | thousand metric tons | 169 | 152 | 137 | 140 | 160 |
| Copper: Imports for consumption: Ore and concentrate | thousand metric tons | 11 | 12 | 3 | s | s |
| Copper: Imports for consumption: Refined | thousand metric tons | 919 | 732 | 771 | 903 | 1,700 |
| Copper: Exports: Ore and concentrate | thousand metric tons | 344 | 351 | 339 | 326 | 340 |
| Copper: Exports: Refined | thousand metric tons | 48 | 27 | 29 | 72 | 110 |
| Copper: Consumption: Reported, refined copper | thousand metric tons | 1,750 | 1,720 | 1,580 | 1,580 | 1,700 |
| Copper: Consumption: Apparent, primary refined copper and copper from old scrap | thousand metric tons | 1,970 | 1,810 | 1,680 | 1,860 | 2,200 |
| Copper: Employment, mine and plant, number | number | 11,400 | 12,000 | 12,600 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Copper: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 44% | 41% | 42% | 45% | 57% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Copper
Which country leads copper production (mine production)?
Chile leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 5,300 thousand metric tons (estimated) (23.0% of the reported world total). World output was 23,000 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country leads copper production (refinery production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for refinery production, with 14,000 thousand metric tons (estimated) (48.3% of the reported world total). World output was 29,000 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported copper reserves?
Chile ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 180,000 thousand metric tons (Reserves) (18.4% of the reported world total) against a reported world total of 980,000 thousand metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for copper?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 57% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Copper content of blister and anodes) were Finland (88%), Malaysia (3%), United Kingdom (3%).
How is copper classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (Added in 2025 Final List). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Electrical wiring, power grids, electric motors, building plumbing, telecommunications, and industrial machinery. Copper supply moves through two distinct statistical stages: mine production (concentrates and SX-EW leaching, measured by recoverable copper content) and refinery production (primary and secondary electrolytic cathodes).