Mining in Canada

01 · What it digs

Share of the world's output

Canada mined 31% of the world's potash in 2025, ranking #1. Across the 34 minerals we track it holds a share of at least 0.5% in 13.

1. Potash31%#1
2. Platinum group metals8.4%#3
3. Gold6.1%#4
4. Niobium5.4%#2
5. Titanium minerals3.8%#7
6. Indium3.6%#4
7. Nickel3.6%#4
8. Iron ore2.6%#8
9. Copper2.2%#12
10. Lithium1.9%#8

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, mine stage, latest year per mineral. Columns on the globe: every producer of potash.

02 · Mining in the economy

What the ground is worth

Mineral rents came to 1.2% of Canada's GDP in 2021, higher than 79% of the countries the World Bank reports; ores and metals made up 7.6% of its merchandise exports in 2025. GDP was $2,320bn in 2025.

World Bank WDI: mineral rents (NY.GDP.MINR.RT.ZS) and ores and metals exports (TX.VAL.MMTL.ZS.UN). The globe shades every country by mineral rents.

04 · Where it goes

Follow the exports

Its largest mineral export line in the trade data is gold: $23.2bn in 2024, led by the United Kingdom ($15.7bn), Switzerland ($7.5bn).

• Gold → United Kingdom refined$15.7bn
• Gold → Switzerland refined$7.5bn
• Potash → United States refined$3.0bn
• Potash → Brazil refined$1.0bn
• Aluminium and bauxite → United States refined$4.6bn
• Uranium → United States intermediate$1.2bn
• Uranium → Netherlands intermediate$0.8bn

CEPII BACI bilateral trade, by value; arcs run from Canada to the buyer.

05 · Jurisdiction

How it governs

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators put Canada at +1.48 on rule of law in 2025, higher than 91% of countries. These are perception-based estimates on a scale from −2.5 to +2.5; they describe the operating environment, not any company.

• Rule of law+1.48above 91% of countries
• Political stability+0.81above 73% of countries
• Regulatory quality+1.44above 93% of countries
• Control of corruption+1.59above 92% of countries

World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators. The globe shades every country by rule of law.

06 · Mines and projects

Where the work is

40 mines in Canada have output figures in open mine databases; the largest by reported output are below. Listed companies hold 28 projects here, shown as dots.

• Mont-WrightIron ore · ArcelorMittal Mining Canada · 15,470,000 t (2019)
• Iron Ore Company of Canada Labrador CityIron ore · Iron Ore Company of Canada Inc. · 15,245,000 t (2018)
• Bloom LakeIron ore · 5,248,057 t (2020)
• Highland Valley CopperCopper, Molybdenum · 100,800 t (2018)
• LalorZinc, Silver, Gold, Copper · 97,739 t (2019)
• BrunswickZinc, Silver, Copper, Lead · 52,000 t (2013)