World lithium reserves 2024, by country

In 2024, reserves of lithium in Chile amounted to an estimated 9.3 million metric tons, the largest worldwide. That same year, Australia held a total lithium reserves of some seven million metric tons. 

Australia leads lithium production

Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal which occurs only in compounds as a mineral due to its high reactivity. Mineral reserves are defined as those minerals that were extractable or producible at the time of estimate. Chile had the largest lithium reserves worldwide, by a large margin. However, Australia was the top country in lithium mine production in 2024, with an output of 88 thousand metric tons of lithium that year. 

Lithium and the future of mobility

Batteries account for the largest share of lithium end-usage. Propelled by the growth in the electric vehicle market, powered by rechargeable lithium batteries, global lithium demand is forecast to reach 1.4 million metric tons by 2025. As of the first half of 2024, Chinese CATL and BYD were the top producers of lithium battery cells, combined accounting for more than half of the global market.