Central banks set to boost gold holdings amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty: World Gold Council
Central banks anticipate an increase in official sector gold holdings amid a backdrop of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, according to a report released by the World Gold Council today. More than nine in ten (95%) reserve managers indicated that they expect central banks to continue increasing their gold holdings in the next 12 months, according to the new 2025 data released by WGC.
This is a record high since it was first tracked in the 2019 survey and represents a 17% increase from the 2024 findings. The 2025
Central Banks Gold Reserves
(CBGR) survey, which collected data from a record 73 of the world's central banks, also finds that nearly 43% of central banks plan to add to their gold reserves within the next year.
Reserve managers' favourable view of gold persists even in the face of record-high gold prices and 15 successive years of
central bank gold buying
. Gold continues to be used as a
safe-haven asset
to help mitigate risks as ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty continues to weigh on reserve managers.
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The top three current motivations for holding the asset have shifted to its long-term store of value (80%), its role as an effective portfolio diversifier (81%), and its performance in times of crisis (85%).
Central banks in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE) have once again maintained their positive outlook for gold's future share in reserve portfolios. Notably, 28 out of 58 (48%) EMDE respondents thought that their gold reserves would increase in the next 12 months, compared to 3 out of 14 (21%) of advanced economy respondents, more than last year.
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Although interest rate levels remained a key component of both groups' motivators for holding gold, inflation (84%) and the geopolitical situation (81%)
were top of mind for EMDEs, while 67% and 60% of advanced economy respondents felt the same. Notably, more central banks are increasingly storing gold domestically: 59% said they have gold in domestic storage, up from 41% in 2024. Additionally, most respondents (73%) see moderately or significantly lower US dollar holdings within global reserves over the next five years. However, respondents also believe that other currencies, such as the euro and renminbi, as well as gold, will increase their share over the same period.
Shaokai Fan, Global Head of Central Banks & Head of Asia-Pacific (ex-China), commented: 'After eight years of conducting this survey, we have reached an important milestone: nearly half of the central bank respondents intend to increase their gold holdings in the coming year. This is remarkable, especially considering how many record-high prices we've hit so far in 2025. Notably, this reflects the current global financial and geopolitical environments. Gold remains a strategic asset as the world faces uncertainty and tumult. Central banks are concerned about interest rates, inflation, and instability – all reasons to turn to gold to mitigate risk.'
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