Money
Ranked: The Largest Gold Reserves, by Country
See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.
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
The Minimum Salary Needed for Financial Success, by U.S. Generation
Gen Z needs $600K/year for success, Boomers under $100K.
What Does Financial Success Look Like for Americans?
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.
“Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” – P.T. Barnum
How much money does it take to be considered financially successful in the United States? A recent survey by Empower, conducted on September 13–14, 2024, asked 2,203 U.S. adults to define financial success in terms of annual salary and overall net worth.
The Numbers Behind Financial Success
The survey revealed that the average American believes a yearly salary of just over $270,000 is enough to achieve financial success. However, generational perspectives vary widely:
- Gen Z (born 1997–2012) feels they need nearly $600,000 annually to reach financial success.
- Boomers (born before 1964) estimate they can achieve success with salaries just under $100,000 a year.
Generation | Birth Years | Minimum Annual Salary | Minimum Net Worth |
---|---|---|---|
Boomers | 1946–1964 | $100,000 | $1,049,172 |
Gen X | 1965–1980 | $212,000 | $5,295,072 |
Millennials | 1981–1996 | $181,000 | $5,638,205 |
Gen Z | 1997–2012 | $588,000 | $9,469,847 |
Actual Average U.S. Salary | $63,975 | $1,060,700 |
The average salary in the U.S. is $63,795, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration.
Interestingly, from a net worth perspective, Gen Z believes a $9.5 million net worth is indicative of financial success—a figure that is nine times the average net worth in the country.
Out of Reach for Many
According to the survey, 47% of Americans believe they’ll never achieve the level of financial success they desire. Only 37% of respondents consider themselves financially successful right now, with men (42%) being more likely than women (33%) to feel this way.
In addition, just 50% of Americans believe they are or will be better off financially than their parents.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
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