How much gold is left on the planet?

Roughly 216,000 tonnes of gold have been mined in total, with about 50,000 to 64,000 tonnes remaining in economically viable underground reserves, according to recent estimates from the World Gold Council (WGC) and USGS and other sources like Live Science. This means nearly three-quarters of the world's gold has already been extracted, with future supply depending on new discoveries, recycling, and technological advances, as mining costs rise and known deposits dwindle, notes Visual Capitalist.

Will we eventually run out of gold?

Yes, we will eventually run out of easily mineable gold, with estimates suggesting known reserves could be depleted by 2040-2050, leading to higher costs, but gold itself won't vanish due to its recyclability, shifting focus from mining to reclamation from electronics and other products, ensuring a sustainable, recirculated supply.
 

How much gold is estimated to be left on Earth?

Key Takeaways. Roughly 216,000 tonnes of gold have been mined, with about 64,000 tonnes of reserves left underground. Gold prices have surged more than 50% in 2025 amid global economic uncertainty and rising investor demand.

How much gold is unmined?

Roughly 50,000 to 60,000 metric tons (tonnes) of gold remain as economically viable underground reserves, though estimates vary slightly, with some figures placing the total known underground gold around 186,000 tonnes, while about 210,000 tonnes have been mined so far. The supply is finite, but new discoveries and technology mean the exact amount still in the ground is always changing, with major potential deposits in countries like China, Russia, and Australia.
 

Is there any undiscovered gold left?

How Much Gold Still Lies Undiscovered? While we've extracted most of the gold on the planet already, there are still about 186,000 tonnes that remain underground. An estimated 54,770 tonnes of these deposits qualify as reserves that can be economically extracted using current technology.

How Much Gold Is Left?

What if I invested $1000 in gold 10 years ago?

If you invested $1,000 in gold 10 years ago (around late 2015/early 2016), your investment would have seen significant growth, potentially turning that $1,000 into roughly $2,000 to over $3,000 by late 2025, depending on the exact entry point and market conditions, reflecting gold's general upward trend and recent surges, though returns vary greatly by the specific start and end dates used for calculation.
 

How much gold can a 𝗨𝗦 citizen legally own?

You can own as much gold as you want in the U.S., as there are no federal limits on personal ownership of gold bullion, coins, or jewelry, a freedom reinstated in 1974 after prior restrictions were lifted. While you can own any amount, large cash transactions (over $10,000) must be reported to the IRS by dealers (Form 8300), and specific types or quantities of gold sold might trigger reporting on Form 1099-B.
 

Who owns the most gold in the world?

• The United States holds the world's largest stockpile of gold reserves by a considerable margin. ...
• Most countries stopped backing their currencies with gold in the mid-1900s. ...
• As noted above, the U.S. is the country with the largest gold reserves. ...
• The United States holds 8,133.46 tons of gold in its reserves.

Will gold go to $5000 an ounce?

Yes, many major financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and UBS, have price targets projecting gold to reach or surpass $5,000 per ounce in 2026, driven by strong central bank buying, geopolitical uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and ongoing economic risks, with some seeing potential for even higher prices if conditions escalate. 

Is there gold on the moon?

Yes, gold exists on the Moon, confirmed by NASA's LCROSS mission which detected traces in lunar soil, but it's scattered in low concentrations, requiring advanced technology for potential extraction, leading to discussions of a future "lunar gold rush" for valuable resources, though bringing it back to Earth is currently economically unfeasible. 

What planet holds the most gold?

While Jupiter likely holds the most gold in total quantity due to its immense mass, the most significant concentrated source of gold in our solar system is the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, an exposed planetary core rich in gold, platinum, and nickel, making it a prime target for future mining. Earth also has vast amounts of gold, but it's scattered, with much in the core, though we mine it from the crust.
 

What if all the gold in the world was melted down?

If all the gold ever mined were melted, it would form a surprisingly small cube, roughly 22 meters (72 feet) on each side, fitting into a couple of Olympic-sized swimming pools, illustrating its density and rarity despite its immense value and global influence, with estimates suggesting over 210,000 tonnes have been extracted throughout history.
 

Is it legal to own a 400 oz gold bar?

Legal Status of Gold Ownership in the U.S.

You may legally acquire and possess: Gold coins: U.S. Mint products (like American Eagles), and foreign coins (like Canadian Maple Leafs) Gold bars: From gram-sized bars to institutional 400-ounce units.

What metal will last 1000 years?

Gold is clearly the most durable, but many objects fashioned from silver, copper, bronze, iron, lead, and tin have survived for several thousand years. Dry environments, such as tombs, appear to be optimum for metal preser- vation, but some metals have survived in shipwrecks for over a thousand years.

Why don't Warren Buffett buy gold?

Warren Buffett calls gold an "unproductive" asset

That's part of the reason he dislikes gold. In his 2011 letter to Berkshire's shareholders, he explicitly referred to it as an unproductive asset and highlighted two of its main shortcomings: Gold isn't very useful.

How much will 1 oz of gold be worth in 2030?

Gold price predictions for 2030 vary wildly, from around $5,000 to over $12,000 per ounce, with some forecasts even suggesting higher, driven by inflation, central bank demand, and geopolitical uncertainty, though some conservative views see lower figures based on stable economic growth. Factors like USD strength, real yields, and global stability heavily influence these projections, with some analysts seeing gold hit new highs as a financial hedge, while others see it as a steady diversifier. 

Will gold go up if the dollar goes down?

Historical data shows no consistent correlation between rising interest rates and falling gold prices. Gold prices are primarily driven by global supply and demand, not just interest rates. A weaker U.S. dollar can boost gold prices since gold is dollar-denominated, making it cheaper for overseas buyers.

Which country has the purest gold in the world?

Among the top sources, countries like Switzerland are known for their exceptional refining processes that produce gold with extremely high purity levels, often reaching 99.99 percent.

Are billionaires buying gold?

see more of our stories on Google. More billionaires are bullish on bullion. Why it matters: Some of the most successful investors in the world are now signaling that the powerful rally in gold prices has more room to run.

Can I go through TSA with gold?

It's perfectly legal to transport gold coins across state lines if their price is assessed at less than $1 million—just don't try to sneak through a TSA checkpoint with gold coins in one of your bags, thinking they'll go unnoticed.

Why is it illegal to own a $20 gold piece from 1933?

The 1933 Double Eagle is illegal to own because it was minted just as President Roosevelt outlawed gold circulation (Executive Order 6102), meaning none were officially released, making them stolen government property; most were melted, but a few escaped, leading to decades of government seizure and legal battles to claim them as property of the U.S. Treasury. 

Which person owns the most gold privately?

The largest private owners of gold are Indian households, collectively holding an estimated 24,000 to over 25,000 metric tons, far surpassing any single individual or nation's central bank reserves due to deep cultural traditions and use as financial security. Chinese households are also major private holders, while specific wealthy individuals like Ray Dalio and John Paulson, and Middle Eastern royal families, also possess significant, though less precisely quantified, private gold.