Infographic

Copper in numbers

Copper (Cu) drawn as one poster: 23 Mt of world mine production in 2025, Chile the largest producer, 8 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025CopperCuBase metal · symbol CuCopper carries electricity: wiring, motors, power grids, electronics and construction take mostof it, and electric vehicles, renewables and data centres use far more per unit than oldertechnologies.WORLD MINE PRODUCTION 202523 MtCu content (recoverable). USGS Mineral CommoditySummaries.TOP PRODUCER: CHILE23%5.3 Mt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 2025980 MtLargest in Chile (180 Mt). Cu content (recoverable).CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS8Current government critical or strategic lists namingcopper, across 7 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS49%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202557%PRICE 20259,950 $/mtTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where copper comes fromChile5.3 Mt23%DR Congo3.2 Mt14%Peru2.7 Mt12%China1.8 Mt7.8%Russia1.3 Mt5.7%United States1.0 Mt4.3%Zambia940 kt4.1%Australia730 kt3.2%Indonesia710 kt3.1%Kazakhstan710 kt3.1%Mine production, Cu content (recoverable). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.World mine output was about 23 Mt in 2025: Chile 5.3 Mt, DRC 3.2 Mt and Peru 2.7 Mt lead, thenChina, Russia, the US and Zambia. Refined output was about 29 Mt including recycled metal, of whichChina refined about 14 Mt. Mining is relatively diverse (top three about 49%); refining is moreconcentrated. Reserves are about 980 Mt.1900–2020A century of copper production0.00 t6.2 Mt12 Mt19 Mt25 Mt190019171934195119691986200320202020: 21 Mt1900: 495 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES14 countries reported copper output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.DEMAND BY END USE 2025What copper is used for28 MtTOTAL DEMAND 2025Electricity networks16%Electric vehicles2.9%Solar PV7.1%Other low-emissions uses2.5%Other uses71%IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, Cu content (refined copper basis); total demand (CC BY 4.0).TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest copper trade routesChile → China$21 bnPeru → China$15 bnChile → Japan$5.4 bnMongolia → China$3.3 bnMexico → China$3.3 bnHS 260300: Copper ores and concentrates. World trade $106 bn in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025European Union: strategic 2024Australia: strategic 2024Canada: critical 2024United States (DOE): critical 2023India: critical 2023South Korea: critical 2023China: strategic 2016prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Copper infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, demand by end use, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World mine production, 2025
23 Mt (Cu content (recoverable)) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
Chile, 5.3 Mt (23% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
49% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2025
980 Mt (Cu content (recoverable)), largest in Chile USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
8 current lists in 7 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
57% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
9,950 $/mt (Copper (nominal USD; LME grade A cathodes, min 99.9935% purity, settlement price)) World Bank Pink Sheet
World production, 1900
495 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2020 (historical series)
21 Mt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest end use, 2025
Other uses: 71% of 28 Mt total demand IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Demand outlook, IEA STEPS 2030
31 Mt (+13% on 2025) IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Chile → China, $21 bn (HS 260300, Copper ores and concentrates); world trade $106 bn CEPII BACI trade database

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Copper storyWhere copper is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics