China is the world’s largest producer of gold.
China took the top position in 2007, when it overtook South Africa after more than a century of South African dominance. China’s production is spread across several regions, with important mining activity in Shandong, Henan, Fujian, Liaoning, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet.
This question concerns newly mined gold, not a country’s gold reserves, jewelry holdings or central-bank stockpile. Those are different rankings: Australia, Russia, South Africa and the United States are also major producers, while countries such as the United States and Germany are notable for official reserves. China is also a major gold consumer and refiner, but consumption and mining output should not be confused.
Gold production rankings can shift slightly from year to year depending on mine output and reporting methods. Nevertheless, recent World Gold Council data continue to place China first, making it the canonical answer for a general-knowledge quiz.