This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Copper is considered an essential metal for the clean energy transition because it is a great conductor of electricity. As a result, governments around the world have been encouraging the construction of new mines, and mining companies have been seeking new projects and acquiring existing mines to meet the growing demand. In this graphic, we illustrate global copper production in 2023, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, as of January 2024. Most Copper Comes from South America Chile and Peru account for one-third of the world’s copper output. Country Region 2023E Production (Million tonnes) 🇨🇱 Chile South America 5.0 🇵🇪 Peru South America 2.6 🇨🇩 Congo (Kinshasa) Africa 2.5 🇨🇳 China Asia 1.7 🇺🇸 United States North America 1.1 🇷🇺 Russia Europe/Asia 0.9 🇦🇺 Australia Oceania 0.8 🇮🇩 Indonesia Asia 0.8 🇿🇲 Zambia Africa 0.8 🇲🇽 Mexico North America 0.7 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan Asia 0.6 🇨🇦 Canada North America 0.5 🇵🇱 Poland Europe 0.4 🌍 Rest of World -- 3.1 World total (rounded) -- 21.5 Chile is also home to the two largest mines in the world, Escondida and Collahuasi. Meanwhile, African countries have rapidly increased their production. The Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, transitioned from being a secondary copper producer in the late 1990s to becoming the third-largest producer by 2023. Part of the growth in copper mining in Africa is attributed to high investment from China. Chinese mining companies represent 8% of Africa’s total output in the mining sector. Within its territory, China has also seen a 277% growth in copper production over the last three decades. In the U.S., Arizona is the leading copper-producing state, accounting for approximately 70% of domestic output. Copper is also mined in Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.