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Supply and Demand
The following two charts summarize the regional movement in gold production throughout the years. From Egypt to South Africa, North America and Australia, production countinues to shift as miners explore the globe for gold.


World Gold Production Pre-1840
Time Annual Average Production* Location 
Sumer Civilization 3000 BC .03 Moz. Asia Minor/Africa 
Egyptians 2000 BC .10 - .13 Moz. Africa/Saudi Arabia/Asia Minor/China 
Roman Empire .19 - .29 Moz. Africa/Asia Minor/Spain/Portugal 
500 - 1100 .06 - .10 Moz. Africa/Germany/Austria/China 
1100 - 1500 .10 - .16 Moz. Africa (mainly Gold Coast)/China 
1500 - 1600 .16 - .32 Moz. Africa (Gold Coast)/China/South America** 
1600 - 1700 .32 - .39 Moz. Africa (Gold Coast)/China/South America 
1700 - 1800 .48 - .80 Moz. Africa (Gold Coast)/Brazil and other South American countries/Russia 
1800 - 1840 .80 - 1.61 Moz. Africa (Gold Coast)/Brazil and other South American countries/Russia 

*The figures in this chart are rough annual estimates. It should be noted that for some years, little production may have taken place. Overall, it is believed that pre-1840 production totaled about 600 million ounces.
**Production in South America started much earlier, but remained there until plundered by Spain.
SOURCE: TIMOTHY GREEN, THE GOLD COMPANION, (LONDON: ROSENDALE PRESS) 1991.



World Gold Production 1840-2000
(in millions of troy ounces)

  1840-1850 1851-1875 1876-1900 1901-1925 1926-1950 1951-1975 1976-2000
Australia 0.0 51.7 39.7 54.5 22.9 22.4 122.1
Canada 0.0 2.2 4.8 21.2 85.1 87.8 93.7
South Africa 0.0 0.0 20.7 178.4 292.3 582.0 488.9
Russia/Former USSR 7.5 22.6 29.1 24.6 73.2 134.9 137.7
USA 5.2 58.4 51.0 93.9 66.8 40.4 155.7
All Other Countries 5.2 19.1 37.0 104.9 159.9 117.9 456.2
World Total 17.9 154.0 182.3 477.5 700.2 985.4 1454.35

SOURCE: GOLD FIELDS MINERAL SERVICES LTD.
COPYRIGHT GOLD FIELDS MINERAL SERVICES LTD.