Top 10 Countries with Most Gold Reserves: Since the beginning of 2025, gold has been on a record-breaking spree, with its price reaching a new all-time high. Its prices have increased by 23% so far this year, 50% over the past year, and 100% in less than three years, as reported by the Financial Express. Global gold prices continue to surge, with gold rates crossing $3,400 on Monday as the dollar weakened and US President Donald Trump unveiled plans to overhaul the Federal Reserve. India generally follows international prices, and for the first time, its prices glittered above the Rs 1 lakh level per 10 gm. The central banks continued to accumulate gold at a remarkable pace in Q4 2024; purchases surged sharply to 333 tonnes this quarter, boosting annual purchases above 1,000 tonnes for the third consecutive year, the World Gold Council noted. Many countries still hold gold reserves today, as they are essential for international trade and finance. These reserves enhance a nation's creditworthiness and impact its status within the global economic framework. Recent data from the World Gold Council indicates that the United States remains the top holder of gold reserves worldwide, possessing a total of 8,133.46 tonnes, valued at approximately 682,276.85 million, almost equal to the combined reserves of the next three largest holders: Germany, Italy, and France. In a notable mention, Poland, the largest gold buyer in 2024, added 89.54 tonnes to its gold reserves, leading it to rise and rank 10th globally. Gold holds a significant place in Indian culture, often being accumulated over generations. However, aligning with global trends, where central banks increase gold holdings amid economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), added about 72.60 tonnes to its gold reserves. This makes it the second-largest gold buyer globally in 2024, after Poland, bringing its total gold reserves to 876.18 tonnes. Furthermore, China also increased its gold reserves by 44.17 tonnes, securing the 5th position and surpassing Russia in the process. Top 10 countries with the largest gold reserves in 2024-25 Rank Country Economic Grouping Gold Reserves (Tonnes) Gold Reserves (Million) 1 United States of America High income 8,133.46 682,276.85 2 Germany High income 3,351.53 281,143.57 3 Italy High income 2,451.84 205,672.74 4 France High income 2,437.00 204,428.20 5 China Upper middle income 2,279.56 191,220.94 6 Switzerland High income 1,039.94 87,235.26 7 India Lower middle income 876.18 73,498.28 8 Japan High income 845.97 70,964.60 9 Netherlands High income 612.45 51,375.79 10 Poland High income 448.23 37,600.03 Table: World Gold CouncilPlease note: The data provided is annual data as of December 2024 and was last updated in February 2025. While the table has been primarily sourced from the World Gold Council, the data referenced includes the Central Banks, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and internal data.
