Global Silver Mining Map: Where Is Silver Mined Around the World

Understanding where is silver mined globally is essential for investors, industry analysts, and those interested in commodity markets. Silver mining operations span across multiple continents, with production heavily concentrated in specific countries that benefit from favorable geology, established mining infrastructure, and supportive regulatory environments. The distribution of where silver gets extracted reveals important patterns about global resources and mining economics.

The World’s Leading Silver Mining Nations

Silver production worldwide is concentrated across just a handful of countries that account for the vast majority of global supply. As of the latest available data, global silver mining output reached approximately 26,000 metric tons annually. The geographic locations where is silver mined demonstrate significant concentration, with the top three producers—Mexico, China, and Peru—collectively accounting for roughly half of worldwide output. This concentration highlights the critical importance of understanding the specific regions where silver mining dominates the global economy.

Top Tier Silver Mining: Mexico, China, and Peru Lead Global Production

Mexico: The World’s Silver Mining Powerhouse

Mexico continues to solidify its position as the planet’s primary silver mining nation, extracting approximately 6,400 metric tons annually. The country’s dominance in silver production stems from multiple factors: abundant high-grade ore deposits, established mining infrastructure, and experienced workforce. A significant portion of Mexican silver mining occurs in Zacatecas state, which hosts two of the world’s largest silver mining operations. Fresnillo operates one of these premier silver mining sites, while Newmont operates the Peñasquito complex, Mexico’s largest open-pit mining operation. The scale of Mexico’s silver mining capacity recently expanded further, with production climbing by roughly 200 metric tons compared to the prior year, demonstrating the country’s growing extraction capabilities.

China’s Rising Silver Mining Output

China ranks as the world’s second-largest source where silver is mined, producing approximately 3,400 metric tons annually. Interestingly, the majority of China’s silver mining output emerges as a byproduct of other metal extraction operations, particularly copper and zinc mining. This reality underscores how silver mining often occurs alongside other mineral extraction efforts. Silvercorp Metals, the country’s largest dedicated silver mining company, operates multiple productive sites including the extensive Ying district complex and the Gaocheng operations. China’s position in global silver mining has strengthened considerably in recent years due to the country’s expanding mining sector and technological advancement.

Peru: A Silver Mining Giant with Untapped Potential

Peru ranks third globally in where silver gets mined, producing approximately 3,100 metric tons annually. What makes Peru’s silver mining particularly noteworthy is the country’s enormous reserve base—roughly 98,000 metric tons of known silver deposits. This substantial reserve inventory suggests Peru possesses tremendous growth potential in silver mining capacity compared to its current production levels. Much of Peru’s silver mining activity centers on the Antamina operation, a complex joint venture involving BHP, Glencore, Teck Resources, and Mitsubishi. While Antamina serves as a prolific silver mining site, it functions primarily as a copper mining operation with silver as a valuable byproduct. Additionally, Fortuna Silver Mines operates the Caylloma silver mining site in Peru, which produced over 1.23 million ounces in a recent year.

Secondary Silver Mining Powerhouses: Middle-Tier Producers

Chile’s Copper-Linked Silver Mining Operations

Chile represents another crucial location where silver is mined, yielding approximately 1,400 metric tons annually. The country’s silver mining sector depends heavily on copper extraction, with approximately 26,000 metric tons in known reserves. State-owned Codelco operates two of Chile’s largest silver mining sites—Chuquicamata and Mina Ministro Hales—while international companies including Glencore, Kinross Gold, and BHP operate additional major silver mining complexes.

Poland and Eastern European Silver Mining

Poland contributes approximately 1,300 metric tons to global silver mining output annually, with estimated reserves exceeding 63,000 metric tons. KGHM Polska Miedz, the nation’s primary silver mining enterprise, consistently ranks among the world’s top silver mining producers.

Australia’s Diversified Silver Mining Sector

Australia’s silver mining output totals roughly 1,200 metric tons yearly. The country possesses a storied history of silver mining, with major operations including South32’s Cannington mine, which produces more silver than any other individual site in the country. Additional Australian silver mining occurs at Glencore’s Mount Isa zinc complex and other polymetallic sites. Emerging companies are also developing new silver mining projects, including Horizon Minerals’ Nimbus project in Western Australia.

Bolivia and Russia: Stable Silver Mining Producers

Bolivia and Russia each produce approximately 1,200 metric tons annually. Bolivia’s silver mining centers in the Potosí region, where operations like the San Vicente underground site extract silver alongside zinc and lead. Russia’s silver mining sector experienced changes following Polymetal International’s decision to divest its Russian operations in 2024, though smaller producers like Silver Bear Resources continue silver mining operations.

Smaller-Scale but Significant Silver Mining Operations

United States Silver Mining

The United States produces roughly 1,000 metric tons of silver annually through both dedicated silver mining operations and extraction as a byproduct at base and precious metals sites. Alaska and Nevada emerge as the primary regions where silver mining concentrates, with Hecla Mining operating the continent’s largest dedicated silver mining site—the Greens Creek mine in Alaska—alongside the Lucky Friday silver mining operation in Idaho.

Kazakhstan: An Emerging Silver Mining Hub

Kazakhstan has recently established itself as a significant location where silver gets mined, producing approximately 990 metric tons annually. The country’s leading silver mining company, KAZ Minerals, operates five productive mining assets, with two classified among Kazakhstan’s five largest silver mining sites.

Understanding Why These Locations Dominate Global Silver Mining

The geographic distribution of where is silver mined worldwide reflects several critical factors. Nations hosting major silver mining operations typically possess substantial ore deposits with favorable grades and accessible geology. Additionally, countries with stable political environments, established mining regulatory frameworks, and developed infrastructure attract capital investment in silver mining development. Many major silver mining sites actually produce silver as a secondary product of copper, zinc, or gold extraction—a reality that links silver mining economics to broader metal commodity trends. Understanding where silver is mined therefore requires consideration of both dedicated silver mining operations and the broader polymetallic mining landscape that generates substantial silver supplies.

The concentration of silver mining across these specific global regions demonstrates how geographic and economic factors shape commodity production patterns. For industry participants and investors seeking to understand global silver supply chains, knowing exactly where silver is mined provides essential context for market analysis and strategic decision-making.