Reserves and production
Which countries have the most rare earths? Reserves by country
China holds 44 million tonnes of rare earth oxide reserves, at most 59% of the world's more than 75 million tonnes (USGS 2026). Vietnam, Russia, Australia and the United States each hold 1.9 to 6.3 million.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Rare earth reserves by country, with 2025 mine production
| Country | Reserves, t REO | Share of 75 Mt floor | Mine output 2025, t REO |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 44,000,000 | 58.7% | 270,000 |
| Australia JORC-compliant reserves 3.3 million t | 6,300,000 | 8.4% | 29,000 |
| Russia | 3,800,000 | 5.1% | 2,600 |
| Vietnam | 3,500,000 | 4.7% | 150 |
| United States | 1,900,000 | 2.5% | 51,000 |
| Greenland | 1,500,000 | 2.0% | none reported |
| Tanzania | 890,000 | 1.2% | none reported |
| South Africa | 860,000 | 1.1% | none reported |
| Canada | 830,000 | 1.1% | none reported |
| World | >75,000,000 | — | 390,000 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Oxide equivalent. Shares use USGS's "more than 75 million tonnes" world figure as the denominator, so they are upper bounds. Burma (22,000 t), Madagascar, Thailand and India also produce but USGS gives no reserve figure. USGS revised its Brazilian and Malaysian reserve estimates in 2026; we do not show a figure for them until we can confirm the printed value.
Reserves and output tell different stories
China holds 59% at most, and mines 69%
China's 44 million tonnes of reserves are at most 59% of the world floor, but it produced 270,000 of the 390,000 tonnes mined in 2025, 69%. It mines faster than its share of reserves and also dominates separation. Burma, with no USGS reserve figure, produced another 22,000 tonnes, 6% of the world total.
The United States is second in output with 1.9 million tonnes
US output of 51,000 tonnes came almost entirely from Mountain Pass, California. USGS estimates measured and indicated US resources at 3.6 million tonnes, against more than 14 million tonnes in Canada. Net import reliance for rare earth compounds and metals was 67% in 2025.
Large reserves, little output
Vietnam (3.5 million tonnes), Greenland (1.5 million), Tanzania (890,000), South Africa (860,000) and Canada (830,000) held reserves in 2025 but produced little or nothing. Converting reserves into supply depends on separation capacity and offtake, not geology.
Rare earth reserves: frequently asked questions
Which country has the most rare earth reserves?
China, with 44 million tonnes of rare earth oxide in the USGS 2026 data, at most 59% of the world total, which USGS gives as more than 75 million tonnes. Vietnam, Russia and Australia hold roughly 3.5 to 6.3 million tonnes each.
Which country has the most rare earth reserves after China?
Australia, at 6.3 million tonnes on the USGS basis (3.3 million tonnes under the stricter JORC standard), followed by Russia (3.8 million) and Vietnam (3.5 million).
How much does the United States have?
Reserves of 1.9 million tonnes. The US produced 51,000 tonnes of oxide equivalent in 2025, second only to China, almost all from Mountain Pass, California. Measured and indicated resources are 3.6 million tonnes in the US and more than 14 million tonnes in Canada.
Are reserves the same as production?
No. Reserves are what can be mined economically today. Vietnam has 3.5 million tonnes of reserves and produced about 150 tonnes in 2025; the US has a 1.9 million tonne reserve and produced 51,000. Output depends on mines, processing and policy.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare Earths — world mine production and reserves table
More: what are rare earth elements · rare earth prices · China export controls