Top 10 largest gold producers in Africa: 2026 rankings

• Ghana led Africa’s gold production in 2025, producing 187.3 tonnes and ranking sixth globally.

• South Africa and Burkina Faso followed, producing 98.7 tonnes and 94.0 tonnes respectively.

• West Africa dominated the rankings, with Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire all featuring among Africa’s top 10 producers.

Data from Metals Focus and the World Gold Council, covering production as of 31 December 2025, show that Ghana maintained its position as Africa’s leading gold producer, with output significantly higher than that of every other country on the continent.

The figures also place Ghana among the world’s biggest gold-producing economies, highlighting the growing importance of Africa to the global gold market.

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Globally, China remained the world’s largest gold producer in 2025, producing 384.3 tonnes. Russia followed with 345.0 tonnes, while Australia ranked third with 293.2 tonnes. Canada produced 213.3 tonnes and Peru recorded 208.9 tonnes.

Ghana was sixth globally with 187.3 tonnes, putting it ahead of several established mining economies, including the United States, Uzbekistan, Mexico and Indonesia.

Ghana’s 187.3 tonnes placed it comfortably at the top of Africa’s gold production rankings in 2025.

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Gold has long been central to Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings, foreign exchange reserves, government revenue and employment. The country’s mining industry has also attracted substantial investment from major international mining companies operating large-scale mines across several regions.

Ghana’s strong performance comes at a time when the government is seeking to increase the economic benefits derived from the country’s gold resources.

Under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy, authorities have secured arrangements with large-scale mining companies to direct a portion of gold production towards the country’s strategic reserves.

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The policy is intended to strengthen Ghana’s reserve position and provide additional support for the economy. Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has described the accumulation of gold reserves as an economic war chest, reflecting the government’s broader efforts to use the country’s mineral wealth to improve financial resilience.

Ghana’s position also comes amid renewed attention to gold as a strategic asset. For major producing countries, gold is not only an export commodity but can also play an important role in managing foreign exchange and strengthening national reserves.

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South Africa ranked second in Africa with 98.7 tonnes of gold production in 2025.

The country has a remarkable history in the global gold industry. For much of the 20th century, South Africa was the world’s dominant gold producer, with its vast deposits helping to transform the country into one of Africa’s leading industrial economies.

Production, however, has declined considerably from its historical highs.

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One of the biggest challenges facing South Africa’s gold industry is the ageing nature of many of its mines. Several operations extend to extreme depths, making extraction increasingly expensive and technically demanding.

Deep-level mining requires substantial investment in ventilation, safety systems, energy and underground infrastructure. Declining ore grades and higher operating costs have also placed pressure on the profitability of some operations.

Despite these challenges, gold remains an important part of South Africa’s mining industry and continues to support employment and economic activity in communities built around the country’s historic mining regions.

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Burkina Faso ranked third in Africa, producing 94.0 tonnes in 2025.

Gold has become increasingly important to the country’s economy, providing government revenue, export earnings and livelihoods for thousands of people.

The country’s gold industry includes large-scale mining operations as well as artisanal and small-scale mining. Its strong production performance is particularly notable because the sector operates against a backdrop of prolonged security challenges in parts of the country.

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Security concerns can affect mining operations, transportation, investment and regulatory oversight. Yet Burkina Faso has continued to maintain a substantial presence in the international gold market.

Mali ranked fourth in Africa, with 82.9 tonnes, continuing its position as one of the continent’s most important gold-producing economies.

Gold plays a central role in Mali’s economy and remains one of its major export commodities. The country has extensive gold deposits and a mining industry that includes both industrial operations and smaller-scale producers.

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Sudan followed in fifth place with 74.6 tonnes.

Despite political instability and conflict, gold remains a critical component of Sudan’s economy. The country possesses considerable mineral resources, while artisanal and small-scale mining accounts for a significant share of gold production.

The position of Sudan in the rankings highlights the resilience and complexity of Africa’s gold industry, where substantial mineral wealth often exists alongside major political, security and regulatory challenges.

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The 2025 figures demonstrate the growing importance of West Africa to the global gold market.

Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea all feature among Africa’s top six producers. Guinea recorded 69.3 tonnes, placing sixth on the continental ranking.

Zimbabwe ranked seventh with 62.4 tonnes, followed by Côte d'Ivoire with 59.2 tonnes. Tanzania produced 51.0 tonnes, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo completed the top 10 with 42.4 tonnes.

The figures underline the geographic diversity of Africa’s gold industry, with major producers spread across West, East, Central and Southern Africa.

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