Gold Reserves by Country
Three countries have reported the same gold reserves figure in every year from 2018 to 2025. The source for the figures is the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, which report estimated quantities that can be economically extracted. Reserves represent material considered recoverable under applicable conditions, not the amount mined in a given year. The table covers 18 countries, with 13 reported 2025 values, and listed reserves totaled 54,600 metric tons in 2025. USGS puts the rounded world total at 66,000 metric tons.
Australia (13,000 metric tons) and Russia (12,000) lead the ranking just 1,000 metric tons apart. South Africa, third at 5,000, holds less than half of either leader — the ranking drops sharply after the top two. A further 11,000 metric tons sits under Other countries, without individual country attribution. Australia and Russia together hold about 45.8% of the listed 2025 reserves — nearly half the listed total in two countries. The United States stayed at 3,000 metric tons throughout the eight-year series, Mexico at 1,400 and Ghana at 1,000. Together those three unchanging series amount to 5,400 metric tons — roughly matching the entire reserves of third-ranked South Africa. Brazil nearly joined them, reporting 2,400 in every year from 2018 through 2024 before edging to 2,500 in 2025. Australia dipped from 11,000 to 8,400 metric tons in 2022, then climbed to 12,000 for 2023 and 13,000 in 2025. Russia sat at 6,800 through 2021 and 2022, jumped to 11,100 for 2023 and reached 12,000 a year later, where it stayed. The gap between first and second is now 1,000 metric tons — the same amount reported for Ghana. Five of the eighteen countries have no reported 2025 value. Argentina last reported 1,600 metric tons in 2021 and Papua New Guinea 1,100 in 2022, while Mali (800), Colombia (700) and Tanzania (400) all show a 2024 value followed by an empty 2025 cell. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, with 2025 values estimated. Units are metric tons, exactly as reported. Empty means the source reported no value; 0 means the source reports zero. The source’s world total, where published, may be rounded, approximate, a lower bound, or a textual estimate, so shares are computed against the sum of the listed countries. Reserves and production are different measures and should not be combined without equalizing units.
Gold Reserves by Country
Year
1
13,000
2025
2
12,000
2025
3
5,000
2025
4
3,600
2025
5
3,200
2025
6
3,200
2025
7
3,000
2025
8
2,500
2025
9
2,300
2025
10
2,200
2025
11
2,200
2025
12
1600
2021
13
1400
2025
14
1100
2022
15
1000
2025
16
800
2024
17
700
2024
18
400
2024
Three countries that never moved
A two-horse race at the top
The table keeps losing countries
Gold Reserves by Country
#
1
9,800
10,000
10,000
11,000
8,400
12,000
12,000
13,000
2
6,000
3,200
2,700
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
3
5,300
5,300
7,500
6,800
6,800
11,100
12,000
12,000
4
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
5
2,600
2,100
2,700
2000
2,900
2,300
2,500
2,200
6
2,500
2,600
2,600
2,600
2,600
2,600
3,600
3,600
7
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,500
8
2000
1900
2,200
2,200
2,300
2,300
3,200
3,200
9
2000
2000
2000
2000
1900
3,000
3,100
3,200
10
1800
1800
1800
1800
1800
1800
1800
2,200
11
-
1600
1600
1600
-
-
-
-
12
1400
1400
1400
1400
1400
1400
1400
1400
13
1300
1000
1200
1100
1100
-
-
-
14
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
2,300
2,300
15
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
16
-
-
800
-
800
800
800
-
17
-
-
-
-
-
-
700
-
18
-
-
-
-
-
420
400
-
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are gold reserves?
Gold reserves are estimated quantities of gold that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
How close are Australia and Russia in gold reserves?
Australia holds 13,000 metric tons against Russia's 12,000 — a gap of 1,000, equal to Ghana's entire reported reserves.
Which countries kept the same reserve figure?
The United States (3,000 metric tons), Mexico (1,400) and Ghana (1,000) reported identical figures in all eight years; Brazil held 2,400 from 2018 through 2024 before edging to 2,500.
Why are five countries missing from the 2025 table?
Argentina (last 1,600 in 2021), Papua New Guinea (1,100 in 2022), Mali (800), Colombia (700) and Tanzania (400) have 2024 or earlier values but none for 2025. An empty cell means not reported, not zero.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 14.09.2026https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries
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