Money
Ranked: The Largest Gold Reserves, by Country
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Ranked: The Largest Gold Reserves, by Country
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Gold remains an important store of value, serving as a hedge and retaining value during economic crises. In 2023, amid uncertainty about US interest rates and continued geopolitical risks, the metal once again demonstrated its importance by hitting a new record in December.
This graphic, by Sam Parker, displays the top 11 countries by gold reserves as of September 2023, based on data from Central Banks, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Gold Council.
Central Bank Gold Demand
Most of the world’s gold is stored in various locations, including central bank vaults, private depositories, and jewelry holdings.
Countries maintain gold reserves for various reasons.
Firstly, gold serves as a stable and dependable store of value, enhancing confidence in a nation’s economic stability, especially during times of financial uncertainty.
Additionally, despite the waning relevance of the gold standard, some countries still deem gold reserves crucial for maintaining currency stability.
Moreover, gold’s tangibility enables countries to diversify their overall portfolio. Currently, almost one-fifth of all the gold ever mined is held by central banks.
The U.S. boasts the world’s largest gold reserves, with 8,133 tonnes stored in 12 Federal Reserve Banks across the country:
| Country | Tonnes of Gold |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | 8,133 t |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 3,353 t |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 2,452 t |
| 🇫🇷 France | 2,437 t |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 2,333 t |
| 🇨🇳 China | 2,192 t |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1,040 t |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 847 t |
| 🇮🇳 India | 801 t |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 612 t |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 479 t |
Russia and China—arguably the United States’ top geopolitical rivals—have been the largest gold buyers over the last two decades. The People’s Bank of China was the biggest buyer of gold last year, purchasing 225 tonnes.
Seven of the top countries by gold reserves are also among the top 10 biggest economies.
This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Money
How America’s Poverty Rates Differ by Race
This chart shows how poverty rates in America swing between 10–20% when accounting for race.
Charted: How America’s Poverty Rates Differ by Race
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
The U.S. poverty rate stands at 12%, affecting about 41 million people across the country. At the state level, this rate ranges from 7% to 18%, depending on local economic conditions. But how does poverty differ when examined through the lens of racial demographics?
This chart visualizes the percentage and number of Americans living below the poverty threshold, categorized by race, based on data from the American Community Survey 2022 conducted by the Census Bureau. It focuses on respondents who selected a single race.
Racial Disparities in Poverty
The data reveals distinct differences in poverty rates among racial groups, reflecting the complex social and economic dynamics that have evolved over generations.
| Race | % Below Poverty Level | # Below Poverty Level |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 21.7% | 675,913 |
| African American | 21.3% | 8,317,088 |
| Other* | 17.9% | 4,303,587 |
| Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 17.6% | 113,693 |
| Asian | 10.1% | 1,937,553 |
| White | 9.9% | 19,544,155 |
*Hispanic/Latino populations usually select “other race” in census surveys. Figures rounded.
While poverty exists across all racial groups, there are some significant variations in both the rates and total numbers. These disparities reflect a combination of historical factors, structural inequalities, and ongoing challenges unique to different communities.
Native and Black Americans Face Higher Poverty Rates
Both Native Americans and Black Americans have the highest poverty rates, with about one in five individuals from these groups living below the poverty line. These groups are considered “overrepresented” in poverty statistics, meaning their share in poverty exceeds their proportion of the total U.S. population.
Long-standing issues have created cycles of poverty that, despite some progress, remain challenging to overcome in the face of ongoing systemic inequalities.
Other racial groups also grapple with poverty as well. There are 19.5 million white Americans below the poverty line. Although the rate is lower, about one-in-ten, the absolute number of people below the poverty threshold is the largest of all groups.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
The U.S. also falls behind its peers when it comes to government support to help socio-economic mobility. Check out Hours of Work Needed to Escape Poverty to see how it measures up against other high income economies.
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