Silver Per Capita
History plus 2025 context

125 years of silver mining

World silver mine production rose from 5,400 metric tonnes in 1900 to 25,000 tonnes in the latest complete historical year, 2021. USGS estimates 26,000 tonnes in 2025; Mexico, Peru and China contribute about 51%, while the nine leading countries contribute 80%.

Coverage1900–2021 history; 2025 estimatePrimary sourceUSGS Data Series 140 and Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026Published2026-08-15
Download full infographic864 × 1,821 px · WebP
Vertical 125 Years of Silver Mining poster showing actual annual world mine production from 1900 through 2021 and a separate 26,000-tonne 2025 estimate. Below, an engraved world map marks the nine leading producers and proportional silver-ingot bars rank Mexico, Peru, China, Bolivia, Chile, Poland, Russia, the United States and Australia alongside Rest of World.
World silver mine production grew from 5,400 tonnes in 1900 to a 26,000-tonne 2025 estimate; the top three countries account for about 51% and the top nine for 80%.
Accessible data and long descriptionOpen the chart, key statistics and interpretation notes

The poster uses the actual annual USGS series through 2021, including the 2016 high of 28,600 tonnes, and distinguishes the 2025 estimate with a dashed segment and open marker. A geographic map and proportional bars show Mexico at 6,300 tonnes, followed by Peru and China, with Rest of World at 5,200 tonnes.

1900 world output5,400 tMetric tonnes of metal content
2021 world output25,000 tLatest complete historical year
2025 world estimate26,000 tUSGS estimate

Named-country mine production, 2025

1Mexico
6,300 t
2Peru
3,600 t
3China
3,400 t
4Bolivia
1,500 t
5Chile
1,400 t
6Poland
1,300 t
7Russia
1,200 t
8United States
1,100 t
9Australia
1,000 t
10Argentina
800 t
11India
800 t
12Kazakhstan
630 t
13Canada
400 t
14Sweden
400 t
USGS estimate. The combined “Other countries” value is excluded because it is not a country.
Evidence trail

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Suggested citation

Silver Per Capita. “125 years of silver mining.” 2026-08-15. https://silverpercapita.com/infographics/world-silver-production-1900-2025

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