South Africa had platinum group metal (PGM) reserves amounting to an estimated 63,000 metric tons in 2023, which made it by far the country with the leading PGM reserves worldwide.
Reserves of platinum group metals by country
The total worldwide reserves of PGMs were estimated to be some 71,000 metric tons as of 2023. Almost all of this amount, some 88 percent, is located in the Earth’s crust in South Africa. Far behind South Africa, other major PGM reserve holding countries are Russia, Zimbabwe, the United States, and Canada. Russia, with the second-largest PGM reserves in the world, was estimated to have 5,500 metric tons as of 2023.
Platinum production worldwide
Platinum in most cases is a by-product of copper and nickel mines and refineries. The largest pure platinum mines are located in South Africa, which is also the world’s leading producer of the element. Around 120 metric tons of platinum was produced in South Africa in 2023. The second-largest platinum mining country Russia produced some 23 metric tons that year. The largest platinum mining company worldwide is South African mining company Anglo American Platinum Ltd., headquartered in Johannesburg. Other leading platinum companies are Impala Platinum (South Africa), Sibanye Gold Ltd. (South Africa), and Lonmin (United Kingdom).
Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country
(in metric tons)
All platinum-group metals included. Elements in groups eight to ten of the fifth period (the "light platinum metals": ruthenium, rhodium, palladium) and the sixth period (the "heavy platinum metals": osmium, iridium, platinum) of the periodic table are classed as platinum metals or platinoides.
All figures are estimates.
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US Geological Survey. (January 31, 2024). Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country (in metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Geological Survey. "Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country (in metric tons)." Chart. January 31, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Geological Survey. (2024). Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country (in metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Geological Survey. "Reserves of Platinum Group Metals Worldwide in 2023, by Country (in Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Geological Survey, Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country (in metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited February 10, 2025)
Reserves of platinum group metals worldwide in 2023, by country (in metric tons) [Graph], US Geological Survey, January 31, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/273624/platinum-metal-reserves-by-country/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed