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Who Owns the World’s Gold Reserves

Who Owns the World’s Gold Reserves
illustration © Unsplash.com

In 2010, the world’s central banks stopped selling gold and started accumulating it. As gold provides a hedge against economic uncertainty and currency manipulation, the action of these central banks gives us insight as to which countries are most capable of handling an economic storm.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

  • Data from Gold.org - courtesy of the International Monetary Fund’s International Financial Statistics - shows the U.S. by far has the world’s largest gold reserves, followed by Germany and the IMF. Two rivals of the U.S., Russia and China, come in and 6th and 7th, respectively.
  • China and Russia have been some of the most aggressive buyers of gold in recent years. Both Russia and China top the list of the most aggressive gold buyers since 2014. 
  • Although China is the world’s largest producer of gold, its overall gold stores have been anemic compared to its competitors, especially as it relates to total economy size.
  • Recently, the price of gold has moved up, especially as trade talks between the U.S. and China have put some fear into the markets and sent investors looking for safe havens.

A common theme in economics is “those who own the gold make the rules.” Recent statistics suggest a large disparity between the top gold holders in the world and those governments holding less of the yellow metal.

Keterangan Gambar (© Pemilik Gambar)

The Ranking of the World’s Top Gold Owners

1. United States - 8,133 tonnes - $373,430,444,426
2. Germany - 3,369 tonnes - $154,711,817,616
3. IMF - 2,814 tonnes - $129,198,164,458
4. Italy - 2,451 tonnes - $112,568,606,829
5. France - 2,436 tonnes - $111,843,187,142
6. Russia - 2,168 tonnes - $99,552,373,843
7. China - 1,885 tonnes - $86,568,279,703

Understanding the Power of Gold Across the World

According to the latest IMF statistics, the United States remains the largest holder of gold, holding some 8,133 tonnes of it in its stores. Most other countries fall below the 3,000 tonne mark, with the IMF taking third place on the list.

Gold is famous amongst investors for being a safe haven asset--a place to which money can flow when there’s uncertainty in the stock market or in currencies. Those countries with large storehouses of gold have access to a stable asset that tends to weather financial storms.

In recent years, there’s been a shift. Russia and China are fast becoming the world’s top buyers of gold, with their central banks rapidly turning to the yellow metal since 2014. We see that reflected in the rankings, where both countries rank among the top 7 holders of gold.

According to Investing.com, the price of gold has increased recently, especially with the trade wars between the U.S. and China. As investors grow increasingly uncertain about the economic future of each country’s economies, a flight to gold tends to drive up demand and, with it, prices. This increases the value of each country’s gold stores, as well.

With gold where it is, those countries with large gold reserves are in good shape. But you can watch how each country looks for more independence from global currencies (as China moves away from the dollar by buying gold) based on the movement of these numbers.

Has anything on this list surprised you? Share this infographic with your friends and browse the latest financial and economic trends here for fresh insights into the unfolding economic world.

 Source: HowMuch.net, a financial literacy website 

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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