Demand for Gold by global central banks is anticipated to remain strong this year despite bullion prices rising over 120% in the last two years, data from the World Gold Council (WGC) published on Tuesday shows.
The 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) survey, conducted between February 5 and May 1, shows that 45% of respondents (reserves managers at central banks) expect their own Gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months, the highest share ever
The majority of the respondents (54%) see no change in current reserves, while only 1% forecast a reduction in bullion holdings. The survey also showed that 89% of respondents expect global central banks’ total Gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months. The demand for Gold by global central banks has remained robust in the last few years, becoming one of the main factors supporting the price rally seen in 2025.
Central banks remained gung-ho for buying bullion as a hedge against geopolitical tensions and high inflation. The data from the World Gold Council (WGC) shows that central banks have accumulated an average of 1,000 tonnes of Gold over the past four years, up significantly from the 500 tonnes average over the preceding decade. The CBGR survey mentions interest rate decisions highly responsible for decisions regarding the management of Gold reserves, followed by geopolitical instability and inflation concerns.