WGC survey: 89% of central banks expect global gold reserves to rise over the next 12 months

A 2026 World Gold Council survey found that 89% of responding central banks expect global official gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months, while a record 45% anticipate their own holdings will rise. The WGC said central banks have bought an average of 1,000 tonnes annually over the past four years, compared with a 500-tonne average in the preceding decade. In India, the Reserve Bank of India increased its gold reserves from 822.1 tonnes in FY24 to 879.58 tonnes by the end of FY25, and to 880.52 tonnes in FY26. The survey pointed to geopolitical and economic uncertainty as a key factor behind gold’s role in reserve portfolios.