Who holds the world’s gold, and what’s Pakistan’s share in it?

Gold continues to be a cornerstone of economic security for nations, with central banks around the world relying on their holdings as a hedge against currency volatility and as a strategic component of foreign exchange reserves. According to the latest data from TradingEconomics, the United States remains the undisputed leader in gold reserves, holding approximately 8,133 tons.

Trailing behind are several European and Asian powers: Germany holds about 3,362 tons, Italy 3,350 tons, and France 2,452 tons. Russia and China also maintain significant stockpiles, with 2,327 tons and 2,306 tons, respectively. Other major holders include Switzerland (1,040 tons), India (880 tons), and Japan (846 tons). Emerging economic players such as Turkey and the Netherlands round out the top ten, each with roughly 600 tons of gold.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are countries with minimal gold reserves. Several nations across Africa, Asia, and Europe report holdings of less than one ton. Armenia is recorded with zero tons, Kenya with 0.02 tons, Fiji with 0.03 tons, and Uruguay with 0.1 tons, reflecting limited capacity to leverage gold as a financial safeguard.

Pakistan’s position in the global ranking is relatively modest but not negligible. With approximately 64.77 tons of gold reserves, the country ranks in the middle tier globally. While Pakistan’s holdings are considerably smaller than those of leading economies, they surpass many smaller or emerging nations, providing a moderate buffer for economic stability.

Analysts note that gold reserves remain a critical indicator of national financial strength, particularly in times of global economic uncertainty. Pakistan’s reserves, though modest compared to the global heavyweights, still play a meaningful role in the country’s monetary policy and foreign exchange strategy.

*This ranking is based on data sourced from TradingEconomics.