The United States holds the largest gold reserves by a significant margin, with over 8,100 tonnes, far exceeding other nations like Germany, Italy, and France, which rank next. These reserves act as a strategic asset for the U.S. government, stored primarily at Fort Knox and the New York Federal Reserve.
The United States remains the world's largest holder of gold by a wide margin, with 8,133.5 tonnes, a figure virtually unchanged for decades. Most of this gold is stored at Fort Knox and the New York Federal Reserve.
1. United States. With the largest official holdings in the world, the U.S. lays claim to nearly as much gold as the next three countries combined. It also has the third highest gold allocation as a percentage of its foreign reserves.
After Australia, the largest gold reserves by country are estimated to belong to Russia (14.2 per cent), the United States (5.7 per cent), South Africa (5.1 per cent) and Peru (5.1 per cent).
Complete Global Gold Production Rankings (2023)
The United States of America has the largest gold reserves in the world. It holds 8,133.46 metric tonnes of gold, closely equal to the combined reserves of the next three largest gold-holding countries, namely Germany, Italy, and France.
Indian Households Hold the World's Largest Private Gold Reserve 🇮🇳 📌Indian households own 25,488 tonnes of gold 🥇, making them the world's largest private holders of gold reserves.
Yes, in most Australian states, you can generally keep gold you find, especially as a hobbyist on {!nav}Crown land, but you typically need a Miner's Right or prospecting permit, and rules vary by state, with Tasmania having stricter laws where gold may remain Crown property. The key is proper licensing, respecting land ownership, using hand tools (no explosives/heavy machinery), and distinguishing between hobby finds (often tax-free) and commercial mining.
Among the top sources, countries like Switzerland are known for their exceptional refining processes that produce gold with extremely high purity levels, often reaching 99.99 percent.
The richest country by GDP (PPP) per capita is often cited as Singapore, followed closely by Luxembourg, depending on the specific report and year, with Singapore leading in 2025 estimates with around $156,000-$157,000 per person, while Luxembourg is a strong contender just below that, highlighting small, finance-heavy economies as wealthiest per person.
Venezuela owns approximately 18% (or one-fifth) of the world's proven oil reserves, making it the country with the largest reserves globally, holding around 303 billion barrels as of recent data, though its production levels don't always match this vast resource.
Key Takeaways
Russia and China have each added over 1,800 tonnes of gold to their reserves since 2000, more than triple the next highest country. Gold buying by central banks has surged in recent years as countries diversify away from the U.S. dollar and hedge against geopolitical risk.
The WGC estimates that there are 54,000 tonnes of “below-ground gold reserves” waiting to be mined. These below-ground reserves account for less than 30 percent of what has already been mined. “World gold supplies are difficult to quantify.
The Fort Knox Gold Vault
Fort Knox's gold vault is legendary for its extreme security and cutting-edge construction, making it one of the most fortified locations on Earth. From its impenetrable design to the layers of security surrounding it, the facility is built to withstand any form of attack or infiltration.
If you invested $1,000 in gold 10 years ago (around late 2015/early 2016), your investment would likely be worth significantly more today (late 2025), potentially in the range of $2,000 to over $3,000, reflecting substantial price appreciation, though less than the S&P 500 but outperforming during certain periods of market stress, acting as a hedge against uncertainty, with returns varying based on exact entry/exit points and premiums/spreads.
Many new prospectors wonder whether the gold they dig up is taxable. Here's the breakdown: If you're out detecting or panning as a hobby, the gold you find is considered a windfall gain. Hobby finds are not taxed, even if you sell them.
$100,000 worth of gold looks surprisingly small, often just a small stack of coins or a single large bar, because gold is so dense; it's roughly 22 to 27 one-ounce coins or around 3 to 4 kilograms (7-9 lbs), depending on the current price (around $2,900-$3,700/oz in late 2025/early 2026), appearing as a compact, heavy pile, not a huge amount.
Yes, some analysts and forecasts suggest gold could reach $10,000 an ounce, with targets pointing towards late 2028 or the end of the decade, driven by factors like currency debasement fears, central bank buying, geopolitical risk, and inflation hedges, though it's a highly speculative long-term call with no guarantee.
For large-scale investors then, gold bars offer the cheapest option normally. For investors who prefer smaller units however, gold coins may be a better choice. part-selling which is often an effective way of getting a maximum return on investment.
Pure gold is notated as 24K – this is the highest karat level for gold meaning it is 100% pure gold. 18K gold is 75% purity level, 14K is 58.3% purity level, and 10K is 41.7% purity level.
Introduction. In December 2024, the debate on metallic mining in El Salvador took a significant turn. President Nayib Bukele, through a series of posts on Twitter, claimed that the country has gold reserves valued at $3 trillion.
Warren Buffett calls gold an "unproductive" asset
That's part of the reason he dislikes gold. In his 2011 letter to Berkshire's shareholders, he explicitly referred to it as an unproductive asset and highlighted two of its main shortcomings: Gold isn't very useful.
The United States leads with 8,133.46 tonnes of gold, followed by Germany (3,351 tonnes), Italy (2,451 tonnes), France (2,437 tonnes), and Russia (2,329 tonnes). These total data are from the World Gold Council and major central banks.