René Muschter
Research Expert covering Industry & Mobility
Global gold mining - statistics & facts
Gold has always been one of the world's most precious and coveted metals, and the primary reason for its value is its rarity. Estimates on the global mine reserves of gold fluctuated slightly from year to year during the past decade, and in 2025 stood at 66,000 metric tons. Roughly 3,300 metric tons of gold were produced from mines worldwide in 2025. China remains the world's leading gold mining country, followed by Russia and Australia.
Newmont's lead among major gold miners
Among gold mining companies, Newmont from the U.S. remains the global leader, with attributable production of 5.9 million ounces in 2025. Newmont's revenue amounted to nearly 22.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, its highest recorded figure. Agnico Eagle and Barrick Gold, both from Canada, were the world's next largest gold producers, respectively, in 2025. As of mid-2025, Newmont also led the sector in market capitalization, valued at roughly 69.9 billion U.S. dollars, well ahead of its nearest competitor.
Nevada's outsized role in American gold mining
As the fifth-largest global gold-producing country, the United States produced an estimated 160 metric tons in 2025. Nevada is by far the U.S. state with the highest gold production volume, with most of the top ten U.S. gold mines located in the state. The country also has the largest gold holdings of any country worldwide by far: as of 2025, approximately 8,133 metric tons of gold were held by the United States.
Rising demand and record-breaking prices
Over the last decade, global demand for gold has fluctuated, climbing to over 5,000 metric tons in 2025. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, gold demand dropped significantly in 2020, but has since recovered strongly. The average price of gold reached roughly 3,440 U.S. dollars per troy ounce in 2025, a sharp increase over recent years, similar to silver. This makes it clear that gold is still one of the world's most coveted commodities and one of the most rewarding investments, with a return of over 67 percent in 2025 alone.
