The United States holds the largest gold reserves in the world, totaling 8,133 metric tons. Most of this gold is stored at the United States Bullion Depository, commonly known as Fort Knox, in Kentucky.
1. United States. No country comes close to the United States in gold holdings. With more than 8,100 tonnes, the U.S. has more gold than the next three countries combined.
The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into pure gold and this came to be called the golden touch, or the Midas touch.
Although money is no longer backed by gold, governments still store vast amounts of bullion to protect against hyperinflation or other economic shocks.
The United States holds the world's largest stockpile of gold reserves.
Despite having the fifth largest economy in the world, the UK is 16th globally for gold reserves. The big question is though: how much gold reserves does the UK have? As of 2024, the Bank of England holds approximately 310 tonnes of gold for the UK.
Arab traders crossed the Sahara to Ghana, which they called the “Land of Gold.” The king collected taxes from merchants who came through his empire. They had to pay taxes on goods they were selling and goods they bought.
Countries such as Switzerland, Australia, and Canada are known for producing high-purity gold, while countries such as China and Russia are the largest producers of gold in the world. When it comes to jewelry, the purity and color of gold used can vary depending on the desired durability and aesthetic.
Russia holds what is believed to be the world's largest and richest diamond resources. They are the world's largest producer and exporter of rough diamonds by volume.
In the UK, the most common karats for gold jewellery are: 9 karat (9K): 37.5% pure gold. 14 karat (14K): 58.3% pure gold. 18 karat (18K): 75% pure gold.
We're publicly owned. We are a public body that must answer to the people of the UK through Parliament. We started over 300 years ago as a private bank with shareholders. In 1946, the Government nationalised us because of our central importance to the UK's economy.
Switzerland is renowned for its gold refining and trading industries. The country's gold prices are often higher due to its role as a global hub for gold trading and its stringent standards for purity and quality.
In 1999, one of the most significant and controversial financial decisions in British history took place. The Labour Party, under Chancellor Gordon Brown, initiated the sale of nearly half of the United Kingdom's gold reserves at a time when gold prices were near a multi-decade low.
When it comes to gold ownership, Indian households are considered to hoard the most. According to some estimates, Indian families own about 24,000 tonnes of gold. That's almost as much as what all the world's central banks hold combined. In comparison, Chinese households are estimated to hold 20,000 tonnes of gold.
