Perlite Reserves by Country
The perlite table was reshaped in 2023, with three reported values changing, one country entering and two leaving. The dataset draws on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026 and reports estimated quantities that can be economically extracted. The series tracks potentially recoverable material, not the amount mined in a given year. 7 countries appear in the table; 5 have reported 2025 values, and the listed 2025 total stands at 307,000 thousand metric tons.
Greece (180,000 thousand metric tons) leads the United States (50,000) by more than three to one. China (32,000), Slovakia (30,000) and Iran (15,000) follow — three holders within 17,000 of one another, all below one-fifth of the leader. Four of the five countries reporting in 2025 repeated their 2024 reserve figures; Iran returned after skipping 2024. Greece rose from 120,000 to 180,000 thousand metric tons (+50.0%) while China fell from 78,000 to 32,000 (-59.0%) and Iran from 73,000 to 15,000 (-79.5%). Slovakia debuted at 30,000 the same year. Two reporters — Türkiye (57,000 through 2022) and Hungary (49,000) — published their last values and went silent. Türkiye and Hungary reported identical figures for five straight years (2018-2022) before disappearing together. Iran skipped 2024 entirely, then returned at 15,000 for 2025. The United States, meanwhile, has reported exactly 50,000 in all eight years shown, making it the only series in the table that never changed. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026. The 2025 reserve figures are those reported in the 2026 edition. Units are thousand metric tons, exactly as reported. Blank entries indicate that the source reported no value; they are not zeroes. No world total is published for perlite in the 2026 edition, so shares are computed against the sum of the listed countries. Reserves and production are different measures and should not be combined without equalizing units.
Perlite Reserves by Country
Year
1
180,000
2025
2
57,000
2022
3
50,000
2025
4
49,000
2022
5
32,000
2025
6
30,000
2025
7
15,000
2025
The 2023 upheaval
Two departures and one return
Perlite Reserves by Country
#
1
120,000
120,000
120,000
120,000
120,000
180,000
180,000
180,000
2
-
-
-
-
78,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
3
-
-
73,000
73,000
73,000
15,000
-
15,000
4
57,000
57,000
57,000
57,000
57,000
-
-
-
5
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
6
49,000
49,000
49,000
49,000
49,000
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
30,000
30,000
30,000
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are perlite reserves?
Perlite reserves are estimated quantities of perlite that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, in thousand metric tons. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
Which countries hold the most perlite reserves?
Greece (180,000 thousand metric tons) and the United States (50,000) reported the largest 2025 values, followed by China (32,000).
Which perlite reserves changed most in 2023?
Greece rose by 60,000 thousand metric tons, while China fell by 46,000 and Iran by 58,000. Slovakia debuted, while Türkiye and Hungary stopped reporting.
Which countries stopped reporting after 2022?
Türkiye (57,000 thousand metric tons) and Hungary (49,000) last reported in 2022 and have no values for 2023-2025.
Is there a world total?
No — USGS publishes no world total for this series.
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: 16.09.2026https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries
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