The Democratic Republic of Congo Produces 74% of Global Cobalt

What we’re showing?

Estimated cobalt production by country in 2023, in metric tons. 

Key takeaways

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for 74% of the world's cobalt output.

• Around 20% of the cobalt mined in the DRC originates from small-scale artisanal mines, often employing child labor.

• The electric vehicle (EV) sector constitutes 40% of the overall cobalt market.