Which countries have the largest lithium reserves in the world?

At this moment, the technology market and the global energy transition depend directly on a single chemical element: the Lithium.

From your smartphone to your portable console, passing through the electric vehicles that are beginning to dominate the streets, the demand for high-density batteries has placed largest lithium reserves in the center of geopolitical and economic attention.

Known as the “White Cholocate bonbon“, this mineral not only powers devices, but defines who will lead the economy in the coming decades.

What makes Lithium indispensable in the digital and energy era?

Lithium is a light, highly reactive metal with a unique ability to store and release energy efficiently. This characteristic made it the central element of Lithium-Ion batteries, now present in practically all modern technological infrastructure:

As we mentioned above, smartphones, notebooks, portable consoles, drones, power tools and power backup systems depend on this type of battery to function with autonomy, safety and performance. Without Lithium, mobile devices would be heavier, less durable and much more limited in energy capacity.

Electric vehicles use large lithium-based batteries to replace combustion engines, while solar and wind plants depend on storage systems to ensure continuous energy supply. In practice, Lithium is the link between the digital revolution and the transition to a cleaner energy matrix.

Therefore, the mineral is no longer just an industrial input and begins to play a strategic role in the global economy. Whoever controls access to lithium supplies markets and directly influences the pace of innovation, electrification and sustainability in the coming decades.

The powers of White Gold

With the dispute between global powers to ensure the supplyfive nations control more than 90% of the resources identified on the planet. They are:

5. China: the refining domain

China has around 7 million tons in domestic reserves, but its power goes far beyond local extraction. The country dominates nearly 80% of global lithium refining and battery production capacity.

This means that even if the ore leaves Australia or South America, it will likely pass through a Chinese factory before reaching your destination. portable or car electric.

Beijing’s strategy involved buying stakes in mines around the world, ensuring control of the entire supply chain.

4. Australia: the leader in efficiency

Australia adopts a different model: while South Americans extract the mineral from brines (salt lakes), Australians extract it from hard rocks (spodumene). With 8 million tons In terms of resources, the country is the world’s largest producer in volume currently traded.

Its production chain is highly industrialized, with mines such as Greenbushes serving as a global reference.

Most of this production is sent directly to the Chinawhere the chemical refining necessary to manufacture battery cells takes place.

🥉 3. Chile: technology and consolidated production

Although it has a total volume estimated at 11 million tonsChile is known for efficiency. The country is, historically, the one that profits most from extraction in the region, thanks to the favorable conditions of the Salar de Atacama.

Large companies, such as SQM ea Albemarlehave operated there for decades. Recently, the Chilean government announced the National Lithium Strategy, aiming to increase state participation in profits and control new concessions, which generated debates in the financial market about the future of private investments in the country.

🥈 2. Argentina: the engine of the Lithium triangle

Neighboring Bolivia, Argentina also has its position as an expanding power in South America. With resources estimated at 21 million tonsthe country attracts heavy investments from international mining companies.

The regions of Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta are the epicenter of this activity.

Unlike Bolivia, Argentina already has advanced and operational projects, such as Salar del Hombre Muerto, positioning itself to double its export capacity in the coming years, aiming to supply markets that demand hardware and automotive components.

🥇 1. Bolivia: the sleeping giant

Bolivia occupies the top of the global ranking when we talk about total volume of resources. According to recent data from the USGS (US Geological Survey), the country has around 23 million tons of Lithium.

• Location:most of it is concentrated in the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world.
• Situation: Despite its abundance, the country faces infrastructure and technology challenges to transform these resources into large-scale commercial production. Recent agreements with Chinese groups seek to enable this exploration.

And Brazil on the Lithium map?

Brazil is emerging as a promising player, particularly in the Jequitinhonha Valley (MG). With reserves estimated at 730 thousand tonsthe country is betting on the sustainability differential.

Companies like Sigma Lithium lead the exploration of so-called “green lithium”, which uses renewable energy and processes with less water and carbon impact. This attracts the attention of technology manufacturers and automakers who need to meet strict ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals.

In short

Price and market trends

The Lithium market experiences high volatility. In January 2026, the international price of lithium carbonate is around US$21,800 per ton (approximately R$ 117.284in direct conversion without taxes).

The expectation is that the demand multiply by 2035driven by the electrification of the global fleet and the need to store renewable energy. For the technology consumer, this means that the cost and availability of batteries will continue to be determining factors in the final price of electronics and vehicles over the next decade.

Disputes over control of these largest lithium reserves redefine international alliances. While South America holds the raw materials and Asia dominates the processing, Brazil is seeking its space as a supplier of high environmental quality, something increasingly valued by the global industry.

Also read:

What can replace Lithium in the future of batteries?

Although Lithium dominates the current market, the energy and technology industry is already looking for alternatives to reduce costs, geopolitical dependence and environmental impacts. The solutions are still under development, but they show possible paths towards the next generation of energy storage.

The batteries Sodium are the closest option to commercial viability. Sodium is abundant, cheap and distributed globally, which reduces the risk of shortages. Although it has lower energy density than Lithium, it is sufficient for applications such as stationary storage, electrical networks and lower-demand devices. Chinese and European companies have already started pilot production of this type of battery.

Another promising front involves solid state batteries: they continue to use Lithium, but replace the liquid electrolyte with solid materials, increasing safety, durability and energy density.

The objective in this case is not to eliminate lithium, but to use it more efficiently, reducing fire risks and extending the autonomy of electric vehicles. Samsung is a pioneer in this type of technology.

Research is also advancing in battery Magnesium, Zinc and even Graphene. Such materials have advantages such as greater chemical stability and lower cost, but they still face technical challenges in achieving the performance required by modern electronics and vehicles.

However, at this moment Lithium remains irreplaceable for high energy density applications. Alternatives exist, but have not yet reached industrial maturity on a global scale.

That said, the future of batteries tends to be hybrid, with different technologies coexisting depending on the need for performance, cost, sustainability and safety.

Fonte(s): USGS, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, Research Gate e Analytica