We take a look at the top reported official gold holdings of individual countries (as of June 2014) based on information from the World Gold Council.
#20: Spain
Tonnes 281.6
% of reserves: 25%
Tonnes: 286.8
% of reserves: 24%
#18: United Kingdom
UK consumers remained upbeat--jewellery demand for the first half is
25% ahead of the same period last year, albeit that absolute volumes
remain very low.
Tonnes: 310.3
% of reserves: 12
#17: Saudi Arabia
Tonnes: 322.9
% of reserves: 2
#16: Venezuela
From 2001-2012, gold prices rose constantly, accumulating an
unprecedented leap of 516%, but in 2013 prices recorded a dramatic
downturn hitting Venezuela's international reserves, that is, the
resources available to pay imports and debts accrued in foreign
currency. Also, between December 2012 and June 2014, the Central Bank of
Venezuela (BCV) had to revise down the value of the gold bars in its
reserves, from USD 1,686 per troy ounce to USD 1,290 per ounce.
Tonnes:367.6
% of reserves: 71
#15: Portugal
Tonnes: 382.5
% of reserves: 83
#14: Taiwan
Gold reserves in Taiwan remained unchanged at 423.63 Tonnes in the
first quarter of 2014 from 423.63 Tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Tonnes: 423.6
% of reserves: 4
#13: European Central Bank
European bar and coin demand witnessed a major slowdown in the second
quarter, to the bottom end of the post-financial crisis range.
Tonnes: 503.2
% of reserves: 28
#12: Turkey
The 20% year-on-year decline in Turkish jewellery demand, as well as reflecting 2013 strength, was the result of domestic issues.
Tonnes: 512.9
% of reserves: 16
#11: India
Demand in India unsurprisingly fell short of Q2 2013’s surge, but remains robust in a historical context, exceeding its five-year quarterly average.
Tonnes: 557.7
% of reserves: 7
#10: Netherlands
Gold reserves in Netherlands remained unchanged at 612.45 Tonnes in the first quarter of 2014 from 612.45 Tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2013. Gold reserves in Netherlands averaged 710.30 Tonnes from 2000 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 911.82 Tonnes in the second quarter of 2000 and a record low of 612.45 Tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Tonnes: 612.5
% of reserves: 54
#9: Japan
Gold reserves in Japan remained unchanged at 765.22 Tonnes in the first quarter of 2014 from 765.22 Tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2013. Gold reserves in Japan averaged 764.72 Tonnes from 2000 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 765.22 Tonnes in the second quarter of 2001 and a record low of 753.55 Tonnes in the second quarter of 2000.
Tonnes: 765.2
% of reserves: 3
#8: Switzerland
The land of international banking holds 1,040.1 tonnes of gold, which represents 7.8% of its reserves. Some citizens feel very strongly about gold. Last year, the Swiss People's Party collected enough signatures to force a referendum on a proposal to prevent the nation's central bank form selling any of its gold reserves and require it to hold at least 20% of its assets in the precious metal.
Tonnes: 1,040.0
% of reserves: 8
#7: China
China and India together accounted for over half of the 56% year-on-year decline in bar and coin demand, a fact that highlights both the sheer size of these two markets and the unusual nature of last year’s demand.
Tonnes: 1,054.1
% of reserves: 1
#6: Russia
Over a period of six months, Russia has purchased 54 tons of gold and has now outstripped China in total gold reserves. Analysts see this as a sign the Russian economy is reducing its dependence on the dollar and the euro, which make up the lion's share of the country's gold and forex reserves. Yet gold still accounts for just 10 percent of Russia's reserves.
Tonnes: 1,094.7
% of reserves: 10
#5: France
France holds 2,435.4 tonnes of gold, which represents about 64.3% of its reserves. The nation has been relatively quiet in the gold market, but six men were arrested in Paris and surrounding areas for involvement in stealing gold bars worth about 1.6 million euros from an Air France plane. On September 19, the gold was stolen from the plane shortly before it left Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport. The plane was bound for Switzerland. Source: USA Today
Tonnes: 2,435.4
% of reserves: 65
#4: Italy
During the depths of the eurozone crisis, some analysts recommended that Italy use its gold stockpile to raise funds and restore confidence. However, the nation still holds 2,451.8 tonnes of gold, representing 67% of its reserves.
Tonnes: 2,451.8
% of reserves: 67
#3: International Monetary Fund
Tonnes:2,814.0
% of reserves: N/A
#2: Germany
Home to the world’s second largest gold reserves, worth $141 billion, Germany only keeps about one third of its gold ‘at home’, the rest is abroad. 45 percent is in the US Federal Reserve in New York, 13 percent in London, 11 percent in Paris, and only 31 percent in the Bundesbank in Frankfurt.
Tonnes: 3,384.2
% of reserves: 68
#1: United States
Despite ending the gold standard in 1971, the world's largest economy holds 8,133.5 tonnes of gold, representing 72% of reserves.
Tonnes: 8,133.5
% of reserves: 72
