Platinum Group Metals (Iridium) Production by Country

Iridium production by country measures how much iridium each country produces, expressed in tonnes. The figures follow the definitions used in 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 4 countries that record iridium production in the period. 2023 data are available for all 4 countries, which produced a combined 7.38 tonnes in 2023.

Countries With the Largest Iridium Production in 2023

South Africa produced the most iridium in 2023 with 6.222 tonnes. Zimbabwe ranked second with 0.958, followed by Russia (0.2). Canada reported zero production throughout the period, after 0.286 tonnes in 2018.

Platinum Group Metals (Iridium) Production by Country

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#	Country	Latest Data (tonnes)	Year
1	South Africa ZA	6.22	2023
2	Zimbabwe ZW	0.96	2023
3	Russia RU	0.2	2023
4	Canada CA	0	2023

Among the 4 countries with available 2023 data, South Africa accounted for about 84 percent of their combined production, and South Africa and Zimbabwe together for about 97 percent. Only South Africa produced more than 1 tonne in 2023.

Iridium Production Around the World

In Africa, South Africa (6.222 tonnes) is the dominant producer, ahead of Zimbabwe (0.958). In Europe, Russia produced 0.2 tonnes in 2023. In the Americas, Canada reported zero iridium production in 2023, its fifth consecutive year without production after 0.286 tonnes in 2018.

Largest Changes in Iridium Production, 2018–2023

Zimbabwe recorded the largest increase between 2018 and 2023, rising from 0.586 to 0.958 tonnes (up 0.372), most of it in 2023, when output jumped from 0.602. Russia was perfectly flat at 0.2 tonnes throughout.

South Africa recorded the largest decline between 2018 and 2023, falling from 6.357 tonnes to 6.222 tonnes (down 0.135). Canada also declined, from 0.286 tonnes in 2018 to zero from 2019 onward.

Zimbabwe's move is the most notable: it rose from 0.586 tonnes in 2018 to 0.837 in 2020, dipped in 2021–2022, and then jumped to 0.958 in 2023, its highest level of the period. South Africa, by contrast, moved between 6.16 and 7.006 tonnes, with a 2021 peak, and ended 2023 at 6.222.

Canada stopped producing after 2018, reporting zero in every year since, while Russia's output was completely unchanged at 0.2 tonnes throughout the period.

Platinum Group Metals (Iridium) Production by Country

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#	Country	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
1	South Africa	6.36	6.46	6.19	7.01	6.16	6.22
2	Zimbabwe	0.59	0.85	0.84	0.61	0.6	0.96
3	Canada	0.29	0	0	0	0	0
4	Russia	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2

Methodology

The statistics are based on Our World in Data, which compiles national iridium production figures from the BGS World Mineral Statistics, with major processing by Our World in Data. Values refer to mine production of iridium, in tonnes, based on mined rather than refined production. The source notes that figures for metal production are only given for countries where recovery is thought to be based predominantly on domestic materials, and that Spain-produced concentrates may be processed in China to recover platinum group metals. 2023 data are the latest available. In the table, a zero reflects no production, while an empty cell means that no value was reported.