Coltan Production by Country
Coltan production by country measures how much columbite-tantalite, known as coltan, each country produces, expressed in tonnes. The figures refer to mine production, in line with the underlying sources. The statistics are based on Our World in Data, which compiles them from the BGS World Mineral Statistics. The table below lists 6 countries with recorded coltan production in the dataset. Country-level figures are available in the source from 2002 onwards, and the table covers the latest six years, 2018–2023. All countries listed report 2023 data, the latest year available.
DR Congo produced the most coltan in 2023 with 1,795 tonnes. Rwanda ranked second with 1,682, followed by Uganda (400), China (316), and Burundi (6), while Zimbabwe recorded no output. DR Congo and Rwanda together accounted for about 83 percent of the total coltan output recorded in 2023, with DR Congo at about 43 percent and Rwanda at about 40 percent. Only DR Congo and Rwanda produced more than 1,000 tonnes in 2023, while Uganda and China were the only other countries above 100 tonnes. In Africa, DR Congo (1,795) leads, ahead of Rwanda (1,682), Uganda (400), and Burundi (6), while Zimbabwe recorded no output. In Asia, China (316) is the sole producer listed. No European, American, or Oceanian country recorded coltan production in the period. Uganda recorded the largest increase between 2018 and 2023, rising from 7 to 400 tonnes (up 393). DR Congo recorded the largest decline, falling from 2,267 to 1,795 tonnes (down 472). Rwanda declined by 179, from 1,861 to 1,682, China by 44, from 360 to 316, Burundi by 16, from 22 to 6, and Zimbabwe by 14, from 14 to zero. The statistics are based on Our World in Data, which compiles national coltan production figures from the BGS World Mineral Statistics, with major processing by Our World in Data. Values refer to mine production of columbite-tantalite concentrates, known as coltan, in tonnes, based on mined rather than refined production. The main comparison uses 2023 data, the latest year available. Country-level figures are available in the source from 2002 onwards; the table covers the latest six years, 2018–2023. As the BGS does not provide a global total for this indicator, the shares above are calculated against the total output of the countries listed. In the table, a zero reflects no production, while an empty cell means that no value was reported.Countries With the Largest Coltan Production in 2023
Coltan Production by Country
Year
1
1795
2023
2
1682
2023
3
400
2023
4
316
2023
5
6
2023
6
0
2023
Coltan Production Around the World
Largest Changes in Coltan Production, 2018–2023
Coltan Production by Country
#
1
2,267
1256
1712
2,422
2,435
1795
2
1861
1519
1201
1118
1116
1682
3
360
304
296
304
300
316
4
22
22
21
42
10
6
5
14
7
4
0
0
0
6
7
7
173
404
400
400
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most coltan?
DR Congo produced the most coltan in 2023 with 1,795 tonnes, followed by Rwanda (1,682) and Uganda (400).
How many countries are included in the dataset?
The table lists 6 countries with recorded coltan mine production, based on Our World in Data figures compiled from BGS sources.
What does this indicator measure?
It measures coltan (columbite-tantalite) mine production in tonnes, based on mined rather than refined production, as in the underlying BGS source.
Which country produces the least coltan?
Zimbabwe recorded no output in 2023; among the countries with positive production, Burundi recorded the smallest output at 6 tonnes.
Why does the table cover 2018–2023?
The table covers the latest six years with available country-level data; the source reports national coltan production from 2002 onwards.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 15.08.2026https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/minerals
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