10 Countries With Biggest Gold Reserves


6. Switzerland

Gold Holdings: 1,040.1 tonnes

Percent of Foreign Reserves in Gold: 16.3 percent

Switzerland is best known as a financial center, along with it’s specialty in chocolates. The Swiss National Bank sold 1,300 tonnes of gold from 2000-2005. In 2010, its gold reserves reached a quarter of its total reserves. Swiss National Bank conducts Switzerland's monetary policy and guards the country's 1,040.1 tonnes of gold whose worth is approximately $62 billion.

5. China

Gold Holdings: 1,054.1 tonnes

Percent of Foreign Reserves in Gold: 1.6 percent

China reportedly made significant gold purchases in 2011 as it tried to diversify from its holdings of U.S. Treasuries. China buys gold from its domestic market. Though China is world's most populous nation its gold holdings are only 1.6 percent of its total reserves. Its gold holdings are worth about $63 billion but it has more than $3 trillion in U.S. dollars in its reserve.