| Rank | Country | Approx. Share of World Production | Primary Mining Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazakhstan | ~43% | In situ leaching (ISL) |
| 2 | Canada | ~15% | Underground (high-grade) |
| 3 | Namibia | ~11% | Open pit |
| 4 | Australia | ~9% | Open pit and ISL |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | ~7% | ISL |
| 6 | Russia | ~5% | Underground |
| 7 | Niger | ~4% | Open pit / underground |
| 8 | China | ~3% | Various |
| - | Other | ~3% | Various |
Key Point: Kazakhstan is by far the world’s largest uranium producer, contributing about 43% of global mine output. This is a relatively recent development — Kazakhstan overtook Canada as the leading producer around 2009, driven by massive expansion of in situ leaching operations. Note that the old docket listed Canada or Australia as the top producer; this is no longer correct.
About 64% of world production comes from just three countries: Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia. An increasing proportion of uranium — now approximately 45% — is produced by in situ leaching (ISL).
Note on Stability of Supply: Unlike oil and gas, uranium deposits are distributed fairly evenly across the Earth’s surface. The major producing nations (Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia) are generally regarded as stable and reliable suppliers, which is important for the security of nuclear fuel supply.