ANIMATION: Top 20 gold producing countries – 2020

World output of gold in 2020 showed another decline, falling by 119.1 metric tonnes to 3,478 tonnes or 111.8 million troy ounces. The decline came after relentless growth in primary gold production – 822 tonnes or 26.4m ounces between 2010 and 2018, according to London-based mining and metals consultants Metals Focus and the World Gold Council.

China is in danger of losing its no 1 ranking over the next few years – the country lost 95 tonnes of production since peaking in 2016 while Russia added nearly 70 tonnes since then shrinking the gap to 37 tonnes. Russia overtook Australia in 2019 to take the number two spot.