Nearly 43% of central banks plan to hold more gold reserves next year

According to the 2025 data just released by the World Gold Council (WGC), 95% of reserve managers said they expect central banks to continue to increase their gold reserves in the next 12 months. This is a record high compared to the results of surveys from 2019 to now. Reserve managers still maintain a positive view on gold in the context of gold reaching many record highs and central banks maintaining gold purchases for 15 consecutive years.

In fact, the Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) 2025 survey, which collected data from 73 central banks globally, found that nearly 43% of central banks plan to increase their gold reserves in the coming year.

The continued plans by central banks around the world to buy more gold reserves shows that gold continues to serve as a safe haven asset that helps reduce risks amid prolonged economic and geopolitical uncertainty that puts pressure on reserve managers.

The three main reasons why central banks and reserve managers are prioritizing holding gold as an asset at the moment are: gold's long-term value preservation ability (80%), gold's role as an effective portfolio diversifier (81%), and gold's performance in times of crisis (85%).

Central banks in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) once again maintained a positive outlook on the future share of gold in their reserve portfolios.

Twenty-eight out of 58 (48%) EMDE countries surveyed said their gold reserves would increase over the next 12 months, while three out of 14 (21%) developed economies had similar intentions, higher than last year.

Interest rates remain a key driver of demand for gold in both groups of countries. However, while inflation (84%) and geopolitics (81%) are top concerns for EMDEs, 67% and 60% of respondents from developed economies share the same concerns.

Notably, more central banks are increasing their gold holdings domestically. Specifically, 59% of central banks hold gold in their national reserves, up from 41% in 2024.

In addition, most central banks surveyed (73%) believe that the share of the US dollar in global reserves will decline by a moderate or high rate over the next five years. However, these institutions also believe that the share of other currencies (such as the euro or the yuan) and gold in global reserves will increase over the same period.

Mr. Shaokai Fan, Director of Asia-Pacific (excluding China) and Director of Global Central Banks at the World Gold Council, affirmed that the figure of nearly half of the central banks participating in the survey intending to increase their gold holdings next year, in the context of gold reaching many record prices in 2025, is remarkable.

“This figure reflects the current global financial and geopolitical situation. At the same time, it shows that gold maintains its role as a strategic asset in the context of the world facing instability and volatility. Concerns about interest rates, inflation, and instability push central banks to turn to gold to reduce risks,” said Mr. Shaokai Fan.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/gan-43-ngan-hang-trung-uong-co-ke-hoach-om-them-vang-du-tru-nam-toi-d306637.html