Lithium in Canada: 10 Facts & Statistics

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Did you know that Canada is one of the most lithium-rich countries on the planet? As the world races to build electric vehicles (EVs), grid-scale energy storage, and energy technologies of the future, lithium has emerged as one of the most sought-after minerals on earth – and Canada is extraordinarily well-positioned to supply it.

From hard rock deposits in Quebec and Manitoba to vast, newly discovered resources in Alberta's oil and gas reservoirs, Canada's lithium sector is growing rapidly. Backed by a federal Critical Minerals Strategy increasing levels of public and private investment, Canada's lithium industry represents one of the most exciting economic opportunities for Canadians in the coming decades.

Below are 15 facts about lithium in Canada that you may or may not know. Also see:

• Mining in Canada: Facts & Statistics
• What Critical Minerals Does Canada Have?
• Alberta Home to World’s 3rd Largest Lithium Reserves: REPORT

10 Canadian Lithium Mining Facts

Alberta could become a top global lithium supplier, helping support the build-out of advanced batteries while creating immense economic opportunities for Canadians here at home.https://t.co/DBzUi2316R

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) April 10, 2026

#1 - Canada was the seventh largest lithium producer globally in 2024 behind Australia (1), Chile (2), China (3), Zimbabwe (4), Argentina (5), and Brazil (6), accounting for 5,983 tonnes – or 2.5% of global production ^[1]

#2 - Canada was home to two operational mines as of 2024, including the North American Lithium (NAL) mine in Quebec and the TANCO mine in Manitoba ^[1]

#3 - Today, several private companies are advancing lithium projects in traditional rock and unconventional reserves across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan ^[1]

#4 - Not including Alberta’s recently discovered in-brine reserves, Canada is home to the world’s sixth-largest lithium reserves, with 1,336,178 tonnes as of 2024 – or 4.4% of the global total ^[1]

#5 - Canada exported $1.1 billion of lithium primary (non-rechargeable) and lithium-ion batteries, approximately six times the $190 million exported in 2023, with the U.S. accounting for 97% of these exports ^[1]

#6 - Canada’s lithium reserves could supply around half of cumulative global demand from 2030 to 2050 if production capacity is scaled up significantly, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) ^[2]

#7 - Alberta is home to the world’s third-largest lithium reserves, according to a new report by the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS), which suggests that the province has $1.4 trillion of lithium carbonate in-place ^[4]

#8 - For perspective, at 82.5 million tonnes of lithium carbonate, Alberta’s reserves could supplement manufacturing up to 1.9 billion EV batteries ^[4]

#9 - Global lithium demand is growing rapidly, with consumption

#10 - Since 2022, more than 20 technical reports for lithium mining projects evaluating feasibility prospects have been submitted to Canadian authorities for review ^[3]

Canada’s Lithium Deposits

Canada's current lithium resources come from two distinct source types, each representing a massive economic opportunity. The first is hard rock deposits – primarily spodumene pegmatite formations found in Quebec and Manitoba ^[5][6] – which currently host Canada's two operating lithium mines. These are the same type of deposits that have made Australia one of the world's top lithium producers.

The second, and arguably more exciting, opportunity lies in brine-hosted resources. Lithium-rich brines found within oil and gas reservoir formations across Alberta and Saskatchewan hold an estimated 4 million tonnes of lithium, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRC) – nearly double what Canada's hard rock deposits contain. Unlike traditional mining, these brines can be accessed through wells using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, resulting in a much smaller footprint and significant synergies with Alberta's existing oil and gas infrastructure.

It should be noted that NRC has not updated its estimates for national lithium reserves based on new evidence by AGS, which estimates that Alberta sits on the world’s third-largest lithium carbonate reserves.

Lithium Mines in Canada

Canada currently is home to two operational lithium mines. The TANCO Mine, located in Bernic Lake, Manitoba, has been producing lithium concentrate for export since late 2021 and is one of the longest-operating spodumene mines in the country ^[1]. The second, the North American Lithium mine near Val-d'Or, Quebec, restarted production in March 2023 and has been increasing output ever since ^[1]. The project proponent is advancing plans to build a lithium hydroxide or carbonate refinery on-site, which would allow Canada to move up the battery supply chain value ladder.

Looking ahead, the pipeline of new lithium projects is substantial. Projects at various stages of exploration and development are spread across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan – signalling that Canada's production is poised to grow significantly over the coming decade ^[1].

The Alberta government, for example, predicts that the province could be home to more than 60 lithium-producing wells by 2034, with an estimated production of up to 15 thousand tonnes ^[7].

Lithium in Alberta

Alberta may not have traditional lithium mines, but it has something arguably more valuable: one of the world's largest brine-hosted lithium resources, sitting within the same Devonian-age rock formations that have made the province an energy powerhouse for decades ^[7].

Lithium brines have been recognized in Alberta's oil and gas reservoirs since the early 1990s, when companies first identified high lithium concentrations in formations such as the Devonian Leduc and Swan Hills ^[7]. Unlike hard rock mining or the large evaporation ponds used in South American brine operations, Alberta's lithium brines are extracted directly through wells, leveraging existing oil and gas infrastructure, data, and expertise ^[7].

With Alberta's DLE technology maturing and the province's regulatory framework now expanded to include mineral resource development under the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Alberta's lithium sector is transitioning from exploration to pre-production ^[7] – and its role in Canada's critical minerals future is only beginning.

What is Lithium Used For?

Lithium's unique physical and chemical properties make it one of the most versatile and in-demand metals in the world. As the lightest of all metals, it packs an extraordinary energy-to-weight ratio — making it irreplaceable in modern battery technology and dozens of other industrial applications.

Below, we take a look at what lithium is used for across the world ^[1]:

• Rechargeable Batteries (87% of global demand): The single largest use of lithium, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power EVs, smartphones, laptops, and grid-scale energy storage systems. As global EV adoption accelerates, demand for lithium batteries is expected to grow dramatically through 2050 and beyond.
• Ceramics and Glass (5% of global demand): Lithium compounds are added to ceramics and glass products to enhance durability, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability – common products include glass-ceramic stovetops, specialty glass, and fibreglass.
• Lubricating Greases (2% of global demand): Lithium-based greases are among the most widely used industrial lubricants in the world, prized for their performance across a wide range of temperatures in automotive, aerospace, and heavy equipment applications.
• Air Treatment & Industrial Use: Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are used in air conditioning and industrial dehumidification systems as highly effective moisture-absorbing agents.
• Pharmaceuticals: Lithium carbonate is a long-established and widely prescribed medication used to treat bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, and has been in use for over 70 years.
• Aerospace and Battery Recycling: Lithium-aluminium alloys are used in aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. And because lithium is infinitely recyclable, recovered lithium from used EV batteries is increasingly being reprocessed and returned to the supply chain.

Canada’s Lithium Opportunity

It’s time for action! pic.twitter.com/sYIOPMAtu5

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) April 13, 2026

Canada's lithium story is still being written – but the foundations are extraordinary. With world-class reserves, active mines in Quebec and Manitoba, a booming project pipeline, structured government support, and Alberta's unique brine-hosted opportunity, Canada is poised to become one of the world's most important lithium suppliers.

As global demand for EV batteries, grid storage, and advanced energy technology continues to accelerate, Canada's lithium sector represents a generational economic opportunity – one that will create tens of thousands of jobs, attract hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, and help secure a strong and prosperous future for Canadian families.

Learn more about lithium, critical minerals, and Canada's natural resource sectors – including mining, energy, forestry, farming, and more – by joining us today!

SOURCES:

_{1 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/lithium-facts}

_{2 - https://www.iea.org/commentaries/canada-is-set-to-play-a-leading-role-in-supplying-the-world-with-responsibly-produced-critical-minerals}

_{3 - https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/critical-minerals-in-canada/canadas-critical-minerals-strategy/canadas-critical-minerals-strategy-progress-update.html}

_{4 - https://static.ags.aer.ca/files/document/INF/INF_159.pdf}

_{5 - https://www.gov.mb.ca/iem/geo/lithium/index.html}

_{6 - https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/EXAMINE/S023/S023.pdf}

_{7 - https://www.aer.ca/data-and-performance-reports/statistical-reports/alberta-energy-outlook-st98/emerging-resources/emerging-resources-lithium}