Introduction
Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which iron can be extracted. Ores come in different colors, from different levels of iron oxidation, such as gray, yellow, purple, and red. If an ore is made up of more than about 60% of iron, it is called natural ore and can be put directly into iron making furnaces.
Around 98% of iron ore mined is used to make steel, making it one of the most important commodities along with oil. Because of its importance, iron ore is quite valuable and countries are motivated to mine their deposits to become wealthier. Luckily, iron is one of the most abundant elements in the earth; however, because iron is not generally found in the earth’s crust (its outermost layer), it can be expensive to mine.
Learn for yourself about iron production by country in the map and charts.
| # | Country | Iron Ore Production | Copper Production | Steel Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 564,519 ktǂ | 879,522 t | 5,779.6 ktǂ |
| 2 | Brazil | 246,791 ktǂ | 352,635 t | 36,174.3 ktǂ |
| 3 | People's Republic of China | 225,000 ktǂ | 5,733,100 t | 1,032,790 ktǂ |
| 4 | India | 127,000 ktǂ | 25,770 t | 118,201 ktǂ |
| 5 | Russia | 69,500 ktǂ | 924,100 t | 75,584.8 ktǂ |
| 6 | Ukraine | 49,300 ktǂ | 21,365.6 ktǂ | |
| 7 | Canada | 36,100 ktǂ | 475,898 t | 12,976.3 ktǂ |
| 8 | South Africa | 35,400 ktǂ | 29,068 t | 5,019.5 ktǂ |
| 9 | Iran | 32,500 ktǂ | 313,323 t | 28,460 ktǂ |
| 10 | Sweden | 25,400 ktǂ | 100,065 t | 4,678.3 ktǂ |
| 11 | United States of America | 24,100 ktǂ | 1,200,000 t | 85,791.4 ktǂ |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | 12,673 ktǂ | 548,760 t | 4,380 ktǂ |
| 13 | Chile | 9,891 ktǂ | 1,317.5 ktǂ | |
| 14 | Mexico | 9,377 ktǂ | 800,316 t | 18,453.6 ktǂ |
| 15 | Peru | 8,894 ktǂ | 2,150,126 t | 1,234.1 ktǂ |
| 16 | Turkey | 8,570 ktǂ | 107,000 t | 40,360 ktǂ |
| 17 | Mauritania | 7,822 ktǂ | 28,491 t | |
| 18 | Mongolia | 5,530 ktǂ | 291,010 t | |
| 19 | Sierra Leone | 3,500 ktǂ | ||
| 20 | Malaysia | 3,360 ktǂ | 6,900 ktǂ | |
| 21 | Liberia | 3,050 ktǂ | ||
| 22 | Vietnam | 2,777 ktǂ | 37,990 t | 23,019.2 ktǂ |
| 23 | New Zealand | 2,270 ktǂ | 645.7 ktǂ | |
| 24 | Indonesia | 1,810 ktǂ | 505,200 t | 14,300 ktǂ |
| 25 | North Korea | 1,750 ktǂ | 2,000 t | 1,250 ktǂ |
| 26 | Argentina | 1,460 ktǂ | 4,875.1 ktǂ | |
| 27 | Norway | 969 ktǂ | 622.5 ktǂ | |
| 28 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 892 ktǂ | 915 ktǂ | |
| 29 | Austria | 749 ktǂ | 7,884 ktǂ | |
| 30 | Laos | 628 ktǂ | 92,410 t | |
| 31 | Greece | 524 ktǂ | 1,498 ktǂ | |
| 32 | Venezuela | 487 ktǂ | 29.4 ktǂ | |
| 33 | Colombia | 382 ktǂ | 9,356 t | 1,338.2 ktǂ |
| 34 | Egypt | 347 ktǂ | 10,293.5 ktǂ | |
| 35 | South Korea | 322 ktǂ | 70,418 ktǂ | |
| 36 | Algeria | 317 ktǂ | 3,491.3 ktǂ | |
| 37 | Pakistan | 184 ktǂ | 13,200 t | 5,282.7 ktǂ |
| 38 | Tunisia | 180 ktǂ | 80 ktǂ | |
| 39 | Kenya | 90 ktǂ | 485 ktǂ | |
| 40 | Republic of the Congo | 46 ktǂ | 10,300 t | |
| 41 | Morocco | 27 ktǂ | 31,750 t | 500 ktǂ |
| 42 | Philippines | 27 ktǂ | 60,856 t | 900 ktǂ |
| 43 | Bhutan | 22 ktǂ | ||
| 44 | Thailand | 11 ktǂ | 5,472.9 ktǂ | |
| 45 | Uruguay | 1 ktǂ | 62.8 ktǂ |
Iron Ore Production by Country
Algeria
Iron Ore Production
317 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#36
3,491.3 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#39
Argentina
Iron Ore Production
1,460 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#26
4,875.1 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#33
Australia
Iron Ore Production
564,519 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#1
879,522 t
Ranked in the World
#7
5,779.6 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#28
Austria
Iron Ore Production
749 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#29
7,884 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#23
Bhutan
Iron Ore Production
22 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#43
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iron Ore Production
892 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#28
915 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#56
Brazil
Iron Ore Production
246,791 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#2
352,635 t
Ranked in the World
#13
36,174.3 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#9
Canada
Iron Ore Production
36,100 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#7
475,898 t
Ranked in the World
#11
12,976.3 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#19
Chile
Iron Ore Production
9,891 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#13
1,317.5 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#49
Colombia
Iron Ore Production
382 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#33
9,356 t
Ranked in the World
#43
1,338.2 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#48
Egypt
Iron Ore Production
347 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#34
10,293.5 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#20
Greece
Iron Ore Production
524 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#31
1,498 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#47
India
Iron Ore Production
127,000 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#4
25,770 t
Ranked in the World
#36
118,201 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#2
Indonesia
Iron Ore Production
1,810 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#24
505,200 t
Ranked in the World
#10
14,300 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#16
Iran
Iron Ore Production
32,500 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#9
313,323 t
Ranked in the World
#14
28,460 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#10
Kazakhstan
Iron Ore Production
12,673 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#12
548,760 t
Ranked in the World
#9
4,380 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#37
Kenya
Iron Ore Production
90 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#39
485 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#70
Laos
Iron Ore Production
628 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#30
92,410 t
Ranked in the World
#23
Liberia
Iron Ore Production
3,050 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#21
Malaysia
Iron Ore Production
3,360 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#20
6,900 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#26
Mauritania
Iron Ore Production
7,822 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#17
28,491 t
Ranked in the World
#35
Mexico
Iron Ore Production
9,377 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#14
800,316 t
Ranked in the World
#8
18,453.6 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#15
Mongolia
Iron Ore Production
5,530 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#18
291,010 t
Ranked in the World
#15
Morocco
Iron Ore Production
27 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#41
31,750 t
Ranked in the World
#33
500 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#69
New Zealand
Iron Ore Production
2,270 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#23
645.7 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#63
North Korea
Iron Ore Production
1,750 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#25
2,000 t
Ranked in the World
#52
1,250 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#51
Norway
Iron Ore Production
969 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#27
622.5 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#64
Pakistan
Iron Ore Production
184 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#37
13,200 t
Ranked in the World
#39
5,282.7 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#31
People's Republic of China
Iron Ore Production
225,000 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#3
5,733,100 t
Ranked in the World
#1
1,032,790 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#1
Peru
Iron Ore Production
8,894 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#15
2,150,126 t
Ranked in the World
#2
1,234.1 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#52
Philippines
Iron Ore Production
27 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#42
60,856 t
Ranked in the World
#27
900 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#57
Republic of the Congo
Iron Ore Production
46 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#40
10,300 t
Ranked in the World
#41
Russia
Iron Ore Production
69,500 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#5
924,100 t
Ranked in the World
#5
75,584.8 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#5
Sierra Leone
Iron Ore Production
3,500 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#19
South Africa
Iron Ore Production
35,400 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#8
29,068 t
Ranked in the World
#34
5,019.5 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#32
South Korea
Iron Ore Production
322 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#35
70,418 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#6
Sweden
Iron Ore Production
25,400 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#10
100,065 t
Ranked in the World
#22
4,678.3 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#36
Thailand
Iron Ore Production
11 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#44
5,472.9 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#30
Tunisia
Iron Ore Production
180 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#38
80 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#84
Turkey
Iron Ore Production
8,570 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#16
107,000 t
Ranked in the World
#21
40,360 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#7
Ukraine
Iron Ore Production
49,300 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#6
21,365.6 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#14
United States of America
Iron Ore Production
24,100 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#11
1,200,000 t
Ranked in the World
#4
85,791.4 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#4
Uruguay
Iron Ore Production
1 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#45
62.8 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#85
Venezuela
Iron Ore Production
487 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#32
29.4 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#87
Vietnam
Iron Ore Production
2,777 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#22
37,990 t
Ranked in the World
#30
23,019.2 ktǂ
Ranked in the World
#13
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