Gold reserves refer to the amount of gold held by a central bank or government as a store of value and a form of currency backing. These reserves are often seen as a measure of a country’s economic stability and financial security.
Central banks and governments acquire gold reserves through various means, including purchases from domestic mining companies or international markets, as well as through inheritance or confiscation. These reserves can be used to support the value of a country’s currency, as well as to serve as a hedge against inflation and other economic risks.
The amount of gold reserves held by a country can vary widely, with some countries holding only a few tons and others holding thousands. The United States, Germany, and Italy are currently among the countries with the largest gold reserves, while some smaller countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands also hold significant amounts of gold.
Gold reserves can be a valuable asset for a country, providing stability and security in times of economic uncertainty. However, the value of gold can also be subject to fluctuations in the global market, and the decision to maintain large gold reserves can have trade-offs in terms of opportunity costs and allocation of resources.
Rank | Country/Organization | Gold holdings (in metric tons) | Gold's share of forex reserves |
---|---|---|---|
1 | United States | 8,133.50 | 66.30% |
2 | Germany | 3,359.10 | 66.00% |
3 | Italy | 2,451.80 | 62.90% |
4 | France | 2,436.40 | 57.80% |
5 | Russia | 2,298.50 | 21.40% |
6 | China | 1,948.30 | 3.30% |
7 | Switzerland | 1,040.00 | 5.60% |
8 | Japan | 846 | 3.50% |
9 | India | 754.1 | 6.90% |
10 | Netherlands | 612.5 | 55.40% |
11 | Taiwan | 423.6 | 4.30% |
12 | Kazakhstan | 402.4 | 68.30% |
13 | Turkey | 394.2[a] | 23.90% |
14 | Portugal | 382.6 | 68.90% |
15 | Uzbekistan | 362 | 59.70% |
16 | Saudi Arabia | 323.1 | 3.90% |
17 | United Kingdom | 310.3 | 9.30% |
18 | Lebanon | 286.8 | 46.90% |
19 | Spain | 281.6 | 17.80% |
20 | Austria | 280 | 48.00% |
21 | Thailand | 244.2 | 5.80% |
22 | Poland | 230.8 | 8.10% |
23 | Belgium | 227.4 | 31.80% |
24 | Algeria | 173.6 | 18.00% |
25 | Venezuela | 161.2 | 82.90% |
26 | Philippines | 157.8 | 8.50% |
27 | Singapore[14] | 153.7 | 2.10% |
28 | Brazil | 129.7 | 2.10% |
29 | Egypt | 125.9 | N/A |
30 | Sweden | 125.7 | 11.80% |
31 | South Africa | 125.3 | 12.60% |
32 | Mexico | 119.9 | 3.30% |
33 | Libya | 116.6 | 8.40% |
34 | Greece | 114.1 | 46.50% |
35 | South Korea | 104.4 | 1.30% |
36 | Romania | 103.6 | 11.10% |
37 | Iraq | 96 | 8.80% |
38 | Hungary | 94.5 | 13.70% |
39 | Australia | 79.8 | 8.10% |
40 | Kuwait | 79 | 9.20% |
41 | Indonesia | 78.6 | 3.10% |
42 | Denmark | 66.5 | 4.70% |
43 | Pakistan | 64.6 | 18.00% |
44 | Argentina | 61.7 | 9.50% |
45 | Qatar | 57.4 | 7.80% |
46 | United Arab Emirates | 55.4 | 2.40% |
47 | Belarus | 53.4 | 36.70% |
48 | Cambodia | 50.4 | 14.40% |
49 | Finland | 49 | 17.10% |
50 | Jordan | 43.5 | 16.20% |