The 10 countries with the most gold reserves: where do central banks keep their treasure?

Gold. Medium of Exchange for centuries. From backed paper currency to modern jewelry and electronics, it remains relevant. Protects against inflation. Fascinates investors.

Countries need to maintain reserves. Economic reasons, political reasons. No one needs to back currencies with gold anymore, but large economies continue to increase their reserves nonetheless. Protection against financial chaos.

The Hideout of National Treasures

The reserves? Precious metal stored by central banks. They are usually kept in underground vaults. Access? Ultra-restricted.

Why so much interest in gold?

Central banks seem obsessed with the gold metal. They protect the value of the national currency. They minimize risks. It looks like a kind of economic amulet – a sign of wealth and a protective shield.

Data from 2025 shows something curious. Global turbulence pushes many countries to diversify funds. Gold gains space in total reserves. It's no coincidence.

Who has more gold in 2025?

With so much inflation and geopolitical tension, interest in gold has skyrocketed. Everyone wants to know who has how much. Based on data from the World Gold Council and IMF, here are the major accumulators:

1. Russia - Leads the ranking! Over 2,332 tons. Increased its reserves significantly. Clear strategy: depend less on the US dollar. Sanctions due to Ukraine accelerated this trend.

2. China - About 2,300 tons. Second place. Has been buying consistently. Now releases its numbers more frequently. The yuan wants to strengthen.

3. United States - It was the historical leader. Now, third place. Still impressive reserves, but stagnant.

4. Germany - Divide your gold into three places: Frankfurt, New York, and London. I brought back quite a bit home recently.

5. Italy - Curious how your bookings don't change. The Italian economy wobbles, gold stands still.

6. France - Sarkozy sold a lot in 2004 to pay debts. The rest? At the headquarters of the Banque de France in Paris.

7. India - One of the largest consumers in the world. Constantly increasing its reserves. Half stays in the country, the rest in London and Switzerland.

8. Japan - Almost does not touch the reserves. Since Fukushima in 2011, everything remains the same.

9. Switzerland - Land of neutrality and strong banks. 70% in Bern, 20% in London, 10% in Canada.

10. Netherlands - Closing the list. Brought back a lot of gold that was in New York. Balance between Amsterdam and other centers.

The British influence that never ends

The Bank of England? Still extremely important. It holds 310 tons of its own and even more for other countries. Sometimes this becomes a problem. Venezuela and Romania have already wanted their gold back.

Even with disputes, there is a practical advantage to keeping gold in different places. The swap. Countries with gold in London can exchange it for pounds or dollars for a time. Flexibility when things get tight.