Gold’s allure endures, with vast unmined reserves buried across the globe, as mapped by Visual Capitalist’s 2025 ranking drawn from USGS data.
Australia and Russia hold the world’s largest gold deposits in term of value.
World’s gold deposits are in spotlight as gold prices have soared in recent months. Currently, the gold is priced at $4,290 an ounce in the international market.
Here are the world’s top seven countries in terms of gold deposits:
| Rank | Country | Unmined Gold (t) | Value (US$b) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 12000 | 1687 |
| 2 | Australia | 12000 | 1687 |
| 3 | South Africa | 5000 | 701 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 3800 | 505 |
| 5 | Canada | 3200 | 449 |
| 6 | China | 3100 | 435 |
| 7 | United States | 3000 | 421 |
(Source: Visual Capitalist)
Russia
Russia shares first place with 12,000 tonnes of unmined gold, mostly in Siberia and the Far East like Krasnoyarsk, Magadan, Amur, and Chukotka districts. Harsh weather and remoteness slow digs, but sites such as Sukhoy Log promise huge yields, drawing firms amid rising state quotas. Reserves valued at $1.7 trillion underline gold’s role in Russia’s economy beyond oil.
Australia
Australia matches Russia at 12,000 tonnes, centred in Western Australia’s Yilgarn Craton with its rich belts of untapped ore. Operations blend vast open pits and deep shafts, sustaining top production while explorers probe for more amid steady demand. These holdings, worth $1.7 trillion, cement the country’s mining dominance down under.
South Africa
South Africa claims third with 5,000 tonnes, anchored in the historic Witwatersrand Basin that once flooded markets with nuggets. Deeper levels pose high costs and safety risks, curbing output lately, yet fresh tech revives hopes for this $701 billion stockpile. Legacy and potential keep it central to African gold lore.
Indonesia
Indonesia follows with 3,800 tonnes, powered by giants like Grasberg in Papua blending gold and copper riches. Community tensions and rules shift ownership stakes, but the site’s scale ensures clout in output tables. At $505 billion, these reserves lure investors eyeing Southeast Asia’s boom.
Canada
Canada holds 3,200 tonnes across Ontario’s Red Lake, Quebec’s Abitibi, and northern frontiers, fuelling steady digs under green rules. Favourable policies pull global cash, with projects merging old veins and new finds for long-term flow. Valued at $449 billion, it bolsters the maple leaf’s resource edge.
China
China’s 3,100 tonnes scatter through Shandong and Inner Mongolia, backing its production lead via state-run behemoths. Pollution curbs and land limits temper pace, but strategic buys hoard bars alongside untapped ground worth $435 billion. Beijing weaves these into broader metal mastery.
United States
The United States rounds out with 3,000 tonnes in Nevada’s Carlin Trend and Alaska’s wilds, mixing majors with juniors chasing veins. Regulations and costs squeeze margins, yet innovation keeps flows alive at $421 billion total. Domestic hauls shield against import swings.
Buried gold bars shapes tomorrow’s markets, with these leaders poised to quench jewellery, tech, and investor thirst as prices soar. Visual Capitalist’s lens on USGS figures reveals hotspots for bets on the next golden age.
End of Article
