Gold Reserves: Nations With The Most “Untouchable” Wealth

Gold serves as a safe-haven asset, helping protect a nation’s economy from extreme volatility and global crises.

In today’s visualization, we show the top 30 countries with the most gold reserves in metric tonnes (figures rounded). But most importantly, their share of gold in foreign exchange (FX) reserves.

When a country holds gold as the highest percentage of its FX reserves, it signifies a strategic focus on long-term financial security, asset diversification, and a hedge against inflation or geopolitical crises. 

This approach often indicates a lack of faith in major fiat currencies and a desire to minimize counterparty risk.

The data comes from the World Gold Council, as of March 3, 2026.

• The United States, with the highest holdings, holds 8,133.5 tonnes of gold. That gold accounts for 84.2% of its foreign exchange reserve base. 
• Most Asian economies’ forex reserves are held largely in currencies and bonds, with gold in a minor position.