Which Country Has the Most Lithium? The 2026 Global Reserve Ranking

The race for lithium dominance is reshaping the global energy landscape. As electric vehicle demand accelerates and battery storage becomes critical infrastructure, understanding which countries control the world’s lithium reserves has never been more important. Unlike simply knowing which nations produce the most lithium today, analyzing global reserves reveals where tomorrow’s supply security rests—and which countries will shape the battery metal’s future. As of 2026, the total worldwide lithium reserves stand at 30 million metric tons, with just four nations controlling the vast majority of this critical resource.

Chile: The Undisputed Lithium Reserve Powerhouse

Chile commands the world’s largest lithium reserves at 9.3 million metric tons—roughly 31% of global reserves. The Salar de Atacama region alone contains approximately one-third of the planet’s lithium reserve base, making this South American nation the clear leader in lithium resource wealth.

However, abundance alone doesn’t guarantee market dominance. Despite holding the largest reserves, Chile ranked only as the second-largest lithium producer in 2024, extracting 44,000 metric tons. The constraint stems partly from Chile’s stringent legal framework governing mining concessions, which has historically limited the country’s ability to capitalize on its mineral riches. SQM and Albemarle operate the region’s primary extraction facilities, while Chile’s state-owned company Codelco has been negotiating expanding stakes in these operations following 2023 nationalization plans announced by former President Gabriel Boric.

Looking ahead, competition for Chile’s future lithium output intensifies. In early 2025, the government received seven competitive bids for lithium contracts across six salt flats, with major players including a consortium of French mining company Eramet, Chilean miner Quiborax, and Codelco. Winners were expected to be announced in March 2025, signaling the government’s push to increase extraction and export capacity.

Australia: Production Powerhouse with Smaller Reserves

Australia presents a different profile in the global lithium picture. The country holds 7 million metric tons of reserves—significantly less than Chile—yet emerged as the world’s largest lithium producer in 2024. This paradox reflects Australia’s advantage in mining technology and hard-rock lithium extraction.

Unlike Chile’s brine-based deposits, Australian reserves consist primarily of spodumene hard-rock deposits, predominantly concentrated in Western Australia. The Greenbushes mine, operated by the Talison Lithium joint venture (comprising Chinese producer Tianqi Lithium, Australian miner IGO, and Albemarle), has produced lithium continuously since 1985 and remains one of the world’s highest-grade deposits.

However, recent market pressures have impacted Australian production. Falling lithium prices in 2024-2025 prompted several Australian miners to curtail operations temporarily, highlighting the sector’s sensitivity to commodity cycles. Yet opportunities remain untapped: recent university-led research indicates previously unexplored regions in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria contain elevated lithium concentrations, suggesting future reserve discoveries may expand Australia’s already substantial resource base.

Argentina: The Lithium Triangle’s Emerging Force

Argentina ranks third globally with 4 million metric tons of reserves, contributing to what experts call the “Lithium Triangle”—the geographic concentration that includes Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, collectively controlling more than half of the world’s lithium reserves. Despite this wealth, Argentina was the world’s fourth-largest lithium producer in 2024, outputting 18,000 metric tons.

Argentina’s production-to-reserves ratio suggests significant untapped potential. The government has actively promoted industry development, committing up to $4.2 billion in investments starting in 2022, with subsequent approvals for major expansions. In 2024, mining company Rio Tinto announced a $2.5 billion investment to expand operations at the Rincon salar, targeting capacity increases from 3,000 to 60,000 metric tons with full production ramping through 2028. Argosy Minerals similarly expanded its Rincon operations, boosting planned output from 2,000 to 12,000 metric tons annually.

Argentina’s production remains cost-competitive even during price downturns, with approximately 50 advanced lithium mining projects in development—positioning the country as a likely major supplier throughout 2026 and beyond.

China: Strategic Reserves and Market Influence

China holds lithium reserves of 3 million metric tons, ranking fourth despite possessing diverse deposit types: lithium brines, spodumene, and lepidolite hard-rock reserves. The country produced 41,000 metric tons in 2025, a year-over-year increase, yet imports most of its lithium from Australia.

China’s strategic importance extends beyond raw reserves. The nation hosts the majority of the world’s lithium-processing infrastructure and produces most global lithium-ion batteries, creating a critical bottleneck in the supply chain. This dominance has drawn scrutiny: in October 2024, the US State Department accused China of deploying predatory pricing strategies to eliminate non-Chinese competition.

Most significantly, Chinese reports in early 2025 claimed substantially bolstered lithium deposits, asserting that national reserves now represent 16.5% of global resources—up from previously stated 6% figures. These claims remain controversial but reflect China’s push to secure supply independence. The reported discovery of a 2,800-kilometer lithium belt in western regions, with proven reserves exceeding 6.5 million tons of lithium ore and potential resources surpassing 30 million tons, could reshape global markets if verified through independent sources.

Secondary Lithium Reserve Holders

Beyond the dominant four, several countries maintain substantial reserves supporting future production:

• United States: 1.8 million metric tons
• Canada: 1.2 million metric tons
• Zimbabwe: 480,000 metric tons
• Brazil: 390,000 metric tons
• Portugal: 60,000 metric tons (Europe’s largest)

Many of these nations are transitioning from reserve holders to active producers, with development projects advancing rapidly to capture growing global demand.

Why Lithium Reserves Matter More Than Ever

The distinction between reserves and production capacity carries profound implications. A country’s reserve base determines its long-term strategic position as battery demand grows exponentially. Lithium-ion battery demand continues accelerating through 2026, driven by electric vehicle proliferation and energy storage deployments, with projections indicating sustained 20%+ year-over-year growth.

Competition for reserve access intensifies geopolitical tensions, as demonstrated by government interventions, regulatory frameworks, and investment restrictions. Nations with abundant reserves but limited production infrastructure face pressure to develop faster, while countries with advanced mining operations but smaller reserves seek long-term supply contracts with reserve-rich nations.

Key Takeaways: Which Country Dominates Lithium?

Chile unquestionably hosts the world’s largest lithium reserves, yet Australia demonstrates superior production capabilities despite smaller resource bases. Argentina’s emerging role signals the Lithium Triangle’s growing importance, while China’s reserve expansion claims suggest significant market disruption ahead. Together, these four countries and their rivals will determine lithium’s availability, pricing, and geopolitical significance throughout 2026 and the critical decade ahead for global energy transition.