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Which Countries Have the Lowest Inflation?

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Which Countries Have the Lowest Inflation?

Investors are bracing for longer inflation.

The Federal Reserve indicated that more restrictive monetary policy is in the cards amid strong employment gains. In Europe, while inflation has fallen, it is still far above the 2% target. Across the Euro area inflation is estimated to have reached 8.5% in January.

At the same time, some countries have managed to tamp down inflation. Slower growth, cheaper import costs, and foreign exchange policy are some of the factors keeping inflation subdued.

As price pressures rattle global markets, the above infographic maps inflation rates globally using data from Trading Economics, focusing in on the countries with the lowest inflation levels.

World’s Lowest Inflation Rates

Many of the lowest inflation rates around the world are located in Asia, including Macau, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In this region, widespread lockdowns strained growth and consumer spending, lessening inflationary pressures. Last year, Chinese consumers saved $2.2 trillion in bank deposits during these restrictions which were lifted earlier this year.

Inflation in the region was impacted by several other factors. Earlier on in the pandemic, Asian countries including China were less impacted by rising food costs, services inflation, and supply-chain disruptions, unlike what was seen in North America and Europe.

But now as China has reopened, some signs of inflation are beginning to appear. Food prices are up 4.8% annually in December, and hotel rates are rising.

RankCountry / RegionInflation Rate, Year-Over-YearDate
1🇸🇸 South Sudan-11.6%Dec 2022
2🇲🇴 Macau 0.8%Nov 2022
3🇨🇳 China1.8%Dec 2022
4🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR1.8%Nov 2022
5🇴🇲 Oman2.1%Nov 2022
6🇵🇦 Panama2.1%Dec 2022
7🇸🇨 Seychelles2.5%Dec 2022
8🇻🇺 Vanuatu2.7%Mar 2022
9🇹🇼 Taiwan2.7%Dec 2022
10🇨🇭 Switzerland2.8%Dec 2022
11🇱🇮 Liechtenstein2.8%Dec 2022
12🇧🇯 Benin2.8%Dec 2022
13🇲🇻 Maldives2.8%Nov 2022
14🇳🇪 Niger3.1%Dec 2022
15🇧🇳 Brunei3.1%Nov 2022
16🇧🇴 Bolivia3.2%Nov 2022
17🇰🇼 Kuwait3.2%Nov 2022
18🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia3.3%Dec 2022
19🇰🇭 Cambodia3.6%Oct 2022
20🇫🇯 Fiji3.6%Dec 2022
21🇪🇨 Ecuador3.7%Dec 2022
22🇯🇵 Japan3.8%Nov 2022
23🇱🇾 Libya3.8%Nov 2022
24🇧🇲 Bermuda3.8%Oct 2022
25🇧🇭 Bahrain3.9%Nov 2022
26🇲🇾 Malaysia4.0%Nov 2022
27🇵🇸 Palestine4.1%Dec 2022
28🇮🇶 Iraq4.2%Nov 2022
29🇯🇴 Jordan4.4%Dec 2022
30🇹🇯 Tajikistan4.5%Nov 2022
31🇻🇳 Vietnam4.6%Dec 2022
32🇧🇹 Bhutan4.6%Nov 2022
33🇹🇿 Tanzania4.8%Dec 2022
34🇳🇨 New Caledonia4.9%Dec 2022
35🇰🇷 South Korea5.0%Dec 2022
36🇮🇱 Israel5.3%Dec 2022
37🇱🇺 Luxembourg5.4%Dec 2022
38🇸🇿 Swaziland5.5%Oct 2022
39🇮🇩 Indonesia5.5%Dec 2022
40🇬🇦 Gabon5.7%Oct 2022
41🇨🇮 Ivory Coast5.7%Nov 2022
42🇪🇸 Spain5.7%Dec 2022
43🇮🇳 India5.7%Dec 2022
44🇧🇷 Brazil5.8%Dec 2022
45🇹🇭 Thailand5.9%Dec 2022
46🇫🇷 France5.9%Dec 2022
47🇳🇴 Norway5.9%Dec 2022
48🇶🇦 Qatar5.9%Dec 2022
49🇩🇯 Djibouti6.1%Sep 2022
50🇸🇴 Somalia6.1%Dec 2022
51🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago6.2%Sep 2022
52🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea6.3%Sep 2022
53🇵🇷 Puerto Rico6.3%Nov 2022
54🇨🇦 Canada6.3%Dec 2022
55🇧🇸 Bahamas6.5%Sep/22
56🇧🇿 Belize6.5%Nov 2022
57🇺🇸 U.S.6.5%Dec 2022
58🇦🇼 Aruba6.6%Nov 2022
59🇸🇬 Singapore6.7%Nov 2022
60🇹🇱 East Timor6.7%Nov 2022
61🇦🇪 UAE6.8%Jun 2022
62🇳🇦 Namibia6.9%Dec 2022
63🇬🇾 Guyana6.9%Nov 2022
64🇳🇿 New Zealand7.2%Sep 2022
65🇿🇦 South Africa7.2%Dec 2022
66🇬🇷 Greece7.2%Dec 2022
67🇱🇷 Liberia7.2%Sep 2022
68🇦🇺 Australia7.3%Sep 2022
69🇲🇹 Malta7.3%Dec 2022
70🇸🇻 El Salvador7.3%Dec 2022
71🇦🇱 Albania7.4%Dec 2022
72🇨🇻 Cape Verde7.6%Dec 2022
73🇨🇲 Cameroon7.7%Sep 2022
74🇨🇫 Central African Republic7.7%Nov 2022
75🇹🇬 Togo7.7%Dec 2022
76🇲🇽 Mexico7.8%Dec 2022
77🇩🇴 Dominican Republic7.8%Dec 2022
78🇨🇷 Costa Rica7.9%Dec 2022
79🇨🇾 Cyprus7.9%Dec 2022
80🇲🇱 Mali8.0%Nov 2022
81🇳🇵 Nepal8.1%Nov 2022
82🇵🇭 Philippines8.1%Dec 2022
83🇵🇾 Paraguay8.1%Dec 2022
84🇧🇧 Barbados8.2%Oct 2022
85🇮🇪 Ireland8.2%Dec 2022
86🇺🇾 Uruguay8.3%Dec 2022
87🇲🇦 Morocco8.3%Nov 2022
88🇦🇲 Armenia8.3%Dec 2022
89🇵🇪 Peru8.5%Dec 2022
90🇱🇸 Lesotho8.5%Oct 2022
91🇩🇿 Algeria8.6%Nov 2022
92🇩🇪 Germany8.6%Dec 2022
93🇩🇰 Denmark8.7%Dec 2022
94🇧🇩 Bangladesh8.7%Dec 2022
95🇫🇴 Faroe Islands8.8%Sep 2022
96🇫🇮 Finland9.1%Dec 2022
97🇰🇪 Kenya9.1%Dec 2022
98🇰🇾 Cayman Islands9.2%Sep 2022
99🇬🇹 Guatemala9.2%Dec 2022
100🇬🇼 Guinea Bissau9.4%Nov 2022

*Inflation rates based on latest available data.

Globally, one outlier is South Sudan. Political instability and violence have depressed growth and inflation, which stood at -11.6% in December. As it faces a severe humanitarian crisis, the country has the lowest inflation rate worldwide.

Oil-producing nation Oman has also seen low inflation, at 2.1%. One reason for this is that the Omani rial is pegged to the U.S. dollar, keeping the currency anchored. Inflation has remained moderate over the last decade in the country.

The Country With the Lowest Inflation, by Region

In Europe, Switzerland has the lowest inflation rate, at 2.8%, or roughly one-third of the Euro area’s. It is also the lowest rate in the OECD. The country’s strong currency has shielded it from inflationary pressures and high import prices.

Meanwhile, Swiss production prices have risen marginally above inflation, to 4.1% annually in mid-2022. Last year, the Swiss central bank raised interest rates for the first time since 2007 from -0.75% to -0.25% following 20 years of deflation.

Countries With the Lowest Inflation by Region

Panama has the lowest rate in Latin America. The dollarization of the Panamanian balboa has helped quash price pressures. In July, the government regulated the price of 72 items to keep the cost of living from rising after three weeks of protests as inflation climbed as high as 5.2% during the course of 2022.

With the lowest inflation in Asia, Macau witnessed the tourism industry fall off a cliff given lockdown measures, and the economy saw both its GDP and inflation collapse in 2022. Its real GDP is projected to have fallen close to 30% for the year.

Future Gazing

The IMF estimates that 84% of countries around the world will have lower inflation than last year. By 2024, both headline and core inflation are projected to remain above pre-pandemic levels at 4.1%.

Opposing forces of China’s reopening and weaker global growth could offset inflationary pressures, yet this interplay—among a host of other factors—remains to be seen.

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Visualizing Mining’s Footprint in British Columbia

Mining represents 7% of British Columbia’s GDP despite only accounting for 0.04% of the land use.

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Mining Footprint in British Columbia

Visualizing Mining’s Footprint in British Columbia

British Columbia is considered a global leader in the development of socially and environmentally responsible resources.

An estimated 54% of the province’s total land is protected, making it one of the world’s greenest mining hubs.

This graphic by the B.C. Regional Mining Alliance (BCRMA) details mining’s footprint in the province.

A Tier 1 Jurisdiction for Mining

British Columbia covers almost 95 million hectares (234 million acres), more than any European country except Russia, and more than any U.S. state except Alaska.

As the largest mining province in Canada, BC registered $18 billion in revenue from the industry in 2022.

British Columbia stands as Canada’s sole producer of molybdenum, which finds applications in metallurgy and chemistry. Additionally, B.C. is the country’s leader producer of copper and steelmaking coal, besides gold and silver.

B.C. mined material breakdown

At the heart of British Columbia’s mining industry lies the Golden Triangle, one of the hottest mineral exploration districts in the world.

More than 150 mines have operated in the area since prospectors first arrived at the end of the 19th century. The region alone is endowed with minerals worth more than $800 billion.

How Green is B.C. Mining

Mining represents 7% of the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), despite only accounting for 0.04% of the land use. In comparison, farmland demands 3% of the land, bringing $2.1 billion (0.8%) per year.

Land Use in B.C.Revenue (2022, CAD $)
Mining 0.04%$18.0 billion
Oil & Gas 0.4%$9.5 billion
Infrastructure1%$25.0 billion
Farmland3%$2.1 billion
Forest62%$13.3 billion

Mining operations are also supported by a stable, transparent, and effective policy environment. The province ranked as the world’s least risky for mining in 2017 and 2018.

In addition, mineral exploration has received ample support from local Indigenous communities. Today, mining accounts for over two-thirds of all indigenous people employed in the extractives sector.

According to the International Energy Agency, up to six times more minerals and metals will be needed by 2040 to accelerate the energy transition.

In this scenario, British Columbia is well positioned to support the transition to a low-carbon future and make a significant contribution to climate action.

The BCRMA is a strategic partnership between indigenous groups, industry, and government representatives that aims to promote B.C.’s mining opportunities internationally.

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Mapped: The 10 Largest Undeveloped Silver Deposits in the World

Global silver demand is poised to soar in the next decade, driven by emerging technologies like EVs and solar power.

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Ranked: The Largest Undeveloped Silver Deposits in the World

Global silver demand is poised to soar in the next decade, driven by emerging technologies like electric vehicles and solar power.

Silver demand from solar alone has grown from less than 50 million ounces (Moz) a decade ago to an expected 160 Moz in 2023.

So, where will the necessary supply come from to meet this surge? This graphic from Discovery Silver shows the largest undeveloped silver deposits in the world.

Silver in Green Technology

Silver is a vital part of solar cells. The metal is converted into paste and coated onto silicon wafers to make solar arrays.

When sunlight hits the silicon, silver helps to transport the generated electricity for immediate use or store it in batteries. A typical solar panel can contain as much as 20 grams of silver.

Silver’s conductivity and corrosion resistance are vital in electronics, especially electric vehicles where nearly all electrical connections rely on the metal. Over 50 million ounces of silver are used every year to enhance conductivity in powered seats, windows, and other vehicle electronics.

In 2022, 27% of all silver consumption in the U.S. was attributed to electrical and electronics, while 10% was linked to solar technology.

Global Silver Demand Rising

With the increasing demand for new technologies combined with physical investment (bars) demand, the silver market saw a 237.7 Moz deficit in 2022, an all-time record.

2023 silver industrial demand is forecasted to rise by 4% to a new record high.

However, according to the Silver Institute, mined output is expected to decline over the next five years.

In this scenario, new mines are expected to play an important role in meeting the demand.

Currently, the world’s top 10 undeveloped silver deposits contain 984 Moz. Discovery Silver’s Cordero project in Mexico leads the ranking:

RankProjectOwnerCountryContained Silver Reserves (Moz)
1CorderoDiscovery SilverMexico266
2Corani Bear Creek Mining CorporationPeru229
3Prognoz Polymetal International plcRussia125
4Bowdens Silver Mines LimitedAustralia66
5Santa Ana Formerly Bear CreekPeru63
6FuwanMinco Silver CorporationChina55
7Nueva EsperanzaKingsgate Consolidated LimitedChile48
8Vares Adriatic Metals PLCBosnia & Herzegovina47
9Terronera Endeavour Silver Corp.Mexico47
10MenkechkaGeoProMining Ltd.Russia38

Cordero is located in Chihuahua State in Mexico, one of the world’s most prolific silver producing regions.

Once in production, it is expected to become one of the top three silver mines in the world.

As silver demand is expected to soar, Discovery Silver offers direct investment exposure to this paradigm shift through its Cordero Project. Click here to learn more about Discovery Silver.

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