Rare earths - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A group of elements used in permanent magnets, catalysts, polishing compounds and electronics.Mine production and reserves are measured as rare-earth-oxide equivalent, grouping the rare-earth elements in the source statistics.
Rare earths Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (metric tons)
Rare earths Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 140,000 | 168,000 | 210,000 | 240,000 | 270,000 | 270,000 | 69.2% | +92.9% |
| #2 | United States | 39,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 | 43,000 | 45,500 | 51,000 | 13.1% | +30.8% |
| #3 | Australia | 21,000 | 24,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 | 7.4% | +38.1% |
| #4 | Myanmar | 31,000 | 35,000 | 12,000 | 38,000 | 27,000 | 22,000 | 5.6% | -29.0% |
| #5 | Thailand | 3,600 | 8,200 | 7,100 | 7,100 | 2,100 | 4,800 | 1.2% | +33.3% |
| #6 | India | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 0.7% | 0.0% |
| #7 | Madagascar | 2,800 | 6,800 | 960 | 960 | 1,400 | 2,700 | 0.7% | -3.6% |
| #8 | Russia | 2,700 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 0.7% | -3.7% |
| #9 | Brazil | 600 | 500 | 80 | 80 | 560 | 2,000 | 0.5% | +233.3% |
| #10 | Nigeria | - | - | - | - | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.4% | - |
| #11 | Vietnam | 700 | 400 | 1,200 | 600 | 300 | 150 | 0.0% | -78.6% |
| #12 | Malaysia | - | - | 80 | 80 | 140 | 110 | 0.0% | - |
| - | World Total | 240,000 | 290,000 | 300,000 | 350,000 | 380,000 | 390,000 | 100.0% | +62.5% |
Rare earths Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 217.9 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 44,000,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Brazil | 21,000,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Australia | 6,300,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 3.3 million tons. |
| #4 | Russia | 3,800,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Vietnam | 3,500,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | United States | 1,900,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | Greenland | 1,500,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Tanzania | 890,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | South Africa | 860,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Canada | 830,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #11 | Malaysia | 710,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 85,000,000 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rare Earths: Production: Mineral concentrates | metric tons | 42,400 | 42,500 | 41,600 | 45,500 | 51,000 |
| Rare Earths: Production: Compounds and metals | metric tons | 120 | 95 | 800 | 4,300 | 8,900 |
| Rare Earths: Imports: Compounds | metric tons | 7,730 | 10,800 | 8,970 | 8,120 | 21,000 |
| Rare Earths: Imports: Metals: Ferrocerium, alloys | metric tons | 330 | 395 | 259 | 238 | 1,100 |
| Rare Earths: Imports: Metals: Rare-earth metals and alloys | metric tons | 579 | 487 | 476 | 96 | 350 |
| Rare Earths: Exports: Ores and compounds | metric tons | 45,700 | 45,900 | 20,700 | 37,500 | 14,000 |
| Rare Earths: Exports: Metals: Ferrocerium, alloys | metric tons | 825 | 1,520 | 817 | 902 | 890 |
| Rare Earths: Exports: Metals: Rare-earth metals and alloys | metric tons | 20 | 24 | 63 | 347 | 430 |
| Rare Earths: Consumption, apparent, compounds and metals | metric tons | 7,900 | 10,200 | 8,600 | 9,010 | 27,000 |
| Rare Earths: Employment, mine and mill, annual average, number | number | 293 | 350 | 450 | 570 | 670 |
| Rare Earths: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | >95% | >95% | >90% | 53% | 67% |
| Rare Earths: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) |
Frequently Asked Questions - Rare earths
Which country leads rare earths production (mine production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 270,000 metric tons (estimated) (69.2% of the reported world total). World output was 390,000 metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported rare earths reserves?
China ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 44,000,000 metric tons (Reserves) against a reported world total of >85,000,000 metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for rare earths?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 67% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Compounds and metals). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Rare-earth compounds and metals) were China (71%), Malaysia (13%), Estonia (5%).
How is rare earths classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Group profile (15 listed elements) (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets for EV traction motors and wind turbines, fluid-cracking catalysts, lasers, and phosphors. Commercial rare-earth supply comes chiefly from bastnäsite, monazite, loparite, and ion-adsorption clay deposits. Mine and reserve statistics are reported on a combined rare-earth-oxide (REO) equivalent basis rather than by separated element.