Gold reserves or gold holdings are held by central banks as a store of value generally to be used as a last resort.

Official reported gold reserves

As of 14 July, 2004 the largest gold holdings in tonnes:

• United States 8,136.4
• Germany 3,439.5
• I.M.F. 3,217.3
• France 3,024.6
• Italy 2,451.8
• Switzerland 1,515.9
• Netherlands 777.5
• E.C.B. 766.9
• Japan 765.2
• China, Mainland 600.0
• Spain 523.3
• Portugal 482.3
• Taiwan 423.6
• Russia 390.1
• India 357.8
• Venezuela 357.1
• Austria 317.5
• United Kingdom 312.5
• Lebanon 286.8
• Belgium 257.8
• Philippines 243.9
• B.I.S. 194.3
• Sweden 185.4
• Algeria 173.6
• Libya 143.8
• Saudi Arabia 143.0
• Singapore 127.4
• South Africa 123.8
• Turkey 116.1
• Greece 107.5
• Romania 105.1
• Poland 102.9
• Indonesia 96.4
• Thailand 82.7
• Australia 79.7
• Kuwait 79.0
• Egypt 75.6
• Denmark 66.5
• Pakistan 65.3
• Kazakhstan 55.3