Ranked: The World’s Largest Gold Reserves by Country (2026)

Gold remains one of the most important strategic assets held by central banks — and ownership is highly concentrated.

As of mid-2026, official gold reserves (held by central banks and other official institutions) total roughly 36,000–38,000 tonnes worldwide. A small group of countries controls the vast majority of this stockpile. The United States alone holds more gold than the next three nations combined.

Here is the current ranking of the world’s largest official gold reserves.

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Top 15 Countries by Official Gold Reserves (2026)

Rank	Country	Gold Reserves (Tonnes)	Approx. Share of Global Official Reserves	Notes
1	United States	8,133	~22%	Largest by a wide margin; mostly at Fort Knox & NY Fed
2	Germany	3,350	~9%	Second-largest; significant repatriation in past decade
3	Italy	2,452	~7%	Stable holdings
4	France	2,437	~7%	Stable holdings
5	China	2,300–2,346	~6%	Steady buyer in recent years
6	Russia	2,280–2,305	~6%	Major holder; some sales reported in 2026
7	Switzerland	1,040	~3%	High per-capita holdings
8	India	880–881	~2.4%	Consistent accumulation
9	Japan	846	~2.3%	Stable
10	Netherlands	612	~1.7%	High gold share of total reserves
11	Poland	580–630	~1.6%	Aggressive buyer in 2025–2026
12	Turkey	530–535	~1.5%	Active manager of gold reserves
13	Taiwan	424	~1.2%	—
14	Uzbekistan	416–430	~1.1%	Very high gold share of reserves
15	Portugal	383	~1.0%	High gold allocation

Data compiled from World Gold Council, IMF International Financial Statistics, and national central bank reports (latest available figures as of mid-2026). Exact tonnes can vary slightly by reporting date and methodology. Figures are rounded.

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Key Insights from the Ranking

The United States Dominates

The U.S. has held approximately 8,133 tonnes for decades. This stockpile represents a large share of its total international reserves and serves as a long-term strategic asset. Most of it is stored at Fort Knox and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Europe’s Heavy Weight

Germany, Italy, and France together hold more than 8,200 tonnes. These are largely historical holdings dating back to the Bretton Woods era. Many European central banks maintain a high percentage of their total reserves in gold (often 65–80%).

China and Russia’s Rise

China and Russia have significantly increased their official gold holdings over the past decade. China continues periodic purchases, while Russia remains one of the largest holders despite some reported sales. Both countries still have relatively low gold shares of total reserves compared with Western nations, leaving room for further accumulation.

Active Buyers in 2025–2026

Poland has been one of the most aggressive buyers, steadily increasing its reserves toward a higher target. Other notable accumulators include India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and occasionally Singapore.

Concentration Remains Extreme

The top 10 countries account for the majority of all reported official gold reserves. The top four alone hold close to half of the global official stockpile.

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Why Central Banks Hold Gold

Central banks value gold for several reasons:

• Diversification away from pure currency reserves
• Hedge against geopolitical and financial risks
• Long-term store of value with no counterparty risk
• Historical monetary role and public confidence

In recent years, many emerging-market central banks have increased gold holdings as part of broader reserve diversification strategies.

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The Bigger Picture

Official gold reserves change slowly. Large-scale sales are rare, and most major holders either maintain stable stockpiles or add gradually. The ranking in 2026 looks very similar to previous years at the top, with the main movement occurring among mid-tier buyers such as Poland and several Central Asian nations.

Gold continues to play a quiet but important role in the global monetary system — and the map of who owns it remains heavily skewed toward a small number of countries.

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Sources: World Gold Council (gold reserves data), IMF International Financial Statistics, Trading Economics, and national central bank reports (data as of Q1–Q2 2026 where available).

Official reserves figures can be revised and may not include all unreported holdings. This ranking reflects publicly reported data.