Updated
Updated · Visual Capitalist · Aug 18
U.S. and Germany Hold 82% Gold Reserve Shares as China Mines 380 Tonnes but Keeps 8.6%
Updated
Updated · Visual Capitalist · Aug 18

U.S. and Germany Hold 82% Gold Reserve Shares as China Mines 380 Tonnes but Keeps 8.6%

3 articles · Updated · Visual Capitalist · Aug 18

Summary

  • December 2025 data show the U.S. and Germany at the top of central-bank gold allocation, with gold making up 82.4% and 82.2% of reserves, ahead of France at 79.9% and Italy at 79.3%.
  • China illustrates the gap between stockpile size and reserve weight: it holds 2,306 tonnes—the fourth-largest total in the ranking—but gold accounts for just 8.6% of its reserves, close to Japan’s 8.7%.
  • Canada stands out at the bottom with 0 tonnes and a 0% gold share despite being a major producer; it sold its last reserves in 2016 after decades of shifting toward liquid, interest-bearing foreign assets.
  • Separate reserve and production rankings underline gold’s split geography: Australia has the largest known gold reserves at 13,000 metric tons, while China remained the top 2024 producer at 380.2 tonnes.

Insights

What secret financial strategies are being masked by countries intentionally underreporting their true gold holdings to the IMF?
Why are global central banks suddenly scrambling to hide their massive gold stockpiles outside of traditional Western vaults?
Could Canada's controversial decision to completely empty its national gold reserves trigger an economic catastrophe during the next global crisis?