Year over year, the value of globally imported gold jumped up by 29.9% compared to $680.2 billion in 2024.
The world’s 5 biggest importers of gold in 2025 were Switzerland, United Kingdom, mainland China, Hong Kong and India. Collectively, that cohort of major gold buyers bought well over two-thirds (70.8%) of the world total for the shiny precious metal.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries bought the highest dollar amount of imported gold during 2025 with purchases valued at $416.7 billion or 47.2% of the global total.
In second place were importers located in Europe at 45.7% of overall imported gold purchases. Imports to the 27-member European Union represents a much lower percentage (7.8%) mainly because leading gold importers Switzerland and the United Kingdom are not EU members.
Another 5.3% of international gold purchases was delivered to importers in North America.
Tinier percentages arrived in Oceania (1.5%) mostly Australia and New Zealand, Africa (0.3%), and Latin America (0.02%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for gold is 7108.
Gold Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of gold during 2025.
- Switzerland: US$208.3 billion (23.6% of total gold imports)
- United Kingdom: $153.7 billion (17.4%)
- mainland China: $102.2 billion (11.6%)
- Hong Kong: $101.8 billion (11.5%)
- India: $59.2 billion (6.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $37.6 billion (4.3%)
- United States: $30.2 billion (3.4%)
- Türkiye: $23.1 billion (2.6%)
- Thailand: $21 billion (2.4%)
- Singapore: $20.3 billion (2.3%)
- Canada: $16.4 billion (1.9%)
- Germany: $13.4 billion (1.5%)
- Australia: $13.1 billion (1.5%)
- Italy: $11.8 billion (1.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: $9.9 billion (1.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 93.1% of all gold imported in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for gold since 2024 were: Germany (up 117.6%), Australia (up 100.6%), United Kingdom (up 99.2%) and Switzerland (up 98%).
A pair of top buyers posted year-over-year declines in their imported gold purchases, namely the United Arab Emirates (down -64.4%) and mainland China (down -0.6%).
For a comprehensive listing of 100 key international markets for gold, please see the section below.
Searchable List of Gold Importing Countries in 2025
Presented in the following database are the 100 most valuable importers of gold during 2025 sorted by total dollar value of gold imports during 2025.
| Rank | Importer | Gold Imports | 2024-5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | $208,310,441,000 | +98% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | $153,732,240,000 | +99.2% |
| 3 | mainland China | $102,243,467,000 | -0.6% |
| 4 | Hong Kong | $101,765,075,000 | +55.5% |
| 5 | India | $59,241,505,000 | +1.8% |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | $37,565,688,000 | -64.4% |
| 7 | United States | $30,191,170,000 | +89.3% |
| 8 | Türkiye | $23,132,002,000 | +35.3% |
| 9 | Thailand | $21,043,408,000 | +36.4% |
| 10 | Singapore | $20,290,861,000 | +15.1% |
| 11 | Canada | $16,352,180,000 | +70.3% |
| 12 | Germany | $13,370,621,000 | +117.6% |
| 13 | Australia | $13,077,396,000 | +100.6% |
| 14 | Italy | $11,755,717,000 | +17.3% |
| 15 | Saudi Arabia | $9,946,274,000 | +21.7% |
| 16 | South Korea | $7,697,365,000 | +234.3% |
| 17 | Qatar | $6,490,512,000 | +935.2% |
| 18 | Azerbaijan | $6,264,881,000 | +89.1% |
| 19 | Indonesia | $4,882,684,000 | +6.5% |
| 20 | Austria | $4,703,138,000 | +179.4% |
| 21 | Malaysia | $4,612,950,000 | +14.1% |
| 22 | France | $4,537,351,000 | +41.6% |
| 23 | Taiwan | $4,195,136,000 | +56.3% |
| 24 | South Africa | $1,391,184,000 | +24% |
| 25 | Lebanon | $1,382,996,000 | -38.2% |
| 26 | Japan | $1,175,894,000 | +134.8% |
| 27 | Poland | $1,099,969,000 | +140.7% |
| 28 | Egypt | $996,151,000 | +499.4% |
| 29 | Oman | $844,710,000 | -1.7% |
| 30 | Laos | $761,819,000 | +339.1% |
| 31 | Kazakhstan | $752,730,000 | +39.1% |
| 32 | Belgium | $745,579,000 | +24.8% |
| 33 | Jordan | $641,091,000 | +28.5% |
| 34 | Spain | $530,837,000 | +29.7% |
| 35 | Netherlands | $509,245,000 | +21% |
| 36 | Bulgaria | $504,660,000 | +139.9% |
| 37 | Uzbekistan | $480,201,000 | +773.5% |
| 38 | Estonia | $449,287,000 | +126.6% |
| 39 | Croatia | $444,597,000 | +138.4% |
| 40 | Slovenia | $397,802,000 | +146.1% |
| 41 | Czech Republic | $367,670,000 | +59.4% |
| 42 | Iran | $307,819,000 | -62.6% |
| 43 | Vietnam | $301,696,000 | -1.1% |
| 44 | Rwanda | $301,096,000 | -80.5% |
| 45 | Russia | $284,644,000 | +53.5% |
| 46 | Serbia | $234,513,000 | +129.1% |
| 47 | Morocco | $200,702,000 | +112.4% |
| 48 | Slovakia | $197,694,000 | +38.6% |
| 49 | Philippines | $173,054,000 | +99% |
| 50 | Hungary | $164,313,000 | +74.2% |
| 51 | Mexico | $140,191,000 | +6.5% |
| 52 | Dominican Republic | $138,903,000 | -54.2% |
| 53 | Sweden | $116,297,000 | +113.8% |
| 54 | Romania | $111,100,000 | +24.7% |
| 55 | Luxembourg | $107,713,000 | +429.7% |
| 56 | Iraq | $93,387,000 | -99.1% |
| 57 | Israel | $89,041,000 | -34% |
| 58 | Portugal | $86,265,000 | +41.6% |
| 59 | Tunisia | $85,711,000 | +42% |
| 60 | Kuwait | $83,822,000 | -92.1% |
| 61 | Cambodia | $79,344,000 | -52% |
| 62 | New Zealand | $68,766,000 | +135.4% |
| 63 | Finland | $55,149,000 | +112.4% |
| 64 | Latvia | $54,082,000 | +118.6% |
| 65 | Mozambique | $49,312,000 | 0% |
| 66 | Tajikistan | $48,717,000 | -85.6% |
| 67 | Lithuania | $46,017,000 | +158.8% |
| 68 | Malta | $38,946,000 | -36% |
| 69 | Ukraine | $37,788,000 | +56.8% |
| 70 | Ireland | $35,981,000 | +33.3% |
| 71 | Bahrain | $27,295,000 | -91.4% |
| 72 | Denmark | $25,117,000 | -3.2% |
| 73 | Gibraltar | $24,842,000 | +11.4% |
| 74 | Andorra | $23,956,000 | +118.6% |
| 75 | Greece | $19,982,000 | -1.1% |
| 76 | Mauritius | $19,400,000 | -48.7% |
| 77 | Bangladesh | $19,214,000 | -91.5% |
| 78 | North Macedonia | $16,946,000 | +135.3% |
| 79 | Pakistan | $14,932,000 | -36% |
| 80 | Cayman Islands | $13,628,000 | -40.9% |
| 81 | Cyprus | $13,043,000 | +4.6% |
| 82 | Algeria | $12,129,000 | +401% |
| 83 | Kyrgyzstan | $11,780,000 | +567.8% |
| 84 | Mali | $11,776,000 | +9880% |
| 85 | Panama | $11,565,000 | +62% |
| 86 | Eswatini | $10,149,000 | +1950% |
| 87 | Brazil | $9,721,000 | +41.9% |
| 88 | Sri Lanka | $8,180,000 | +84.3% |
| 89 | Benin | $6,208,000 | -44.2% |
| 90 | Montenegro | $4,959,000 | -10.1% |
| 91 | Albania | $4,652,000 | -66.8% |
| 92 | Costa Rica | $3,941,000 | -8.8% |
| 93 | Armenia | $3,599,000 | -99.9% |
| 94 | Macao | $3,594,000 | -92.9% |
| 95 | Norway | $3,091,000 | -41.7% |
| 96 | Guatemala | $2,993,000 | +57.9% |
| 97 | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $1,707,000 | +44.1% |
| 98 | Bolivia | $1,299,000 | +407.4% |
| 99 | Iceland | $1,132,000 | +30.4% |
| 100 | Chile | $1,123,000 | +1108% |
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below.
The right-most column showcases the percentage change in value of imported gold from 2024 to 2025. A value of 0% in that column means that 2024 data was unavailable for the corresponding country.
Main Importers of Gold Ranked by Shipment Weight
Listed below is the physical volume of gold imports by ton for the 15 biggest buyers of gold on international markets as measured by weight.
- Switzerland: 2,582 tons of imported gold (up 21.6% from 2024)
- United Kingdom: 1,373 tons (up 38.4%)
- Belgium: 1,358 tons (up 62.1%)
- Hong Kong: 942 tons (up 6.2%)
- mainland China: 940 tons (down -32%)
- India: 640 tons (down -21.2%)
- South Africa: 622 tons (up 4,047%)
- United Arab Emirates: 391 tons (down -71.9%)
- United States: 294 tons (up 33.6%)
- Canada: 242 tons (up 16.9%)
- Türkiye: 224 tons (down -3.4%)
- Thailand: 190 tons (down -4.5%)
- Singapore: 185 tons (down -41.6%)
- Italy: 181 tons (down -13%)
- Germany: 124 tons (up 53.1%)
Recording the greatest gains by shipment weight purchased were gold importers in South Africa (up 4,047% since 2024), Belgium (up 62.1%), Germany (up 53.1%), United Kingdom (up 38.4%) and the United States of America (up 33.6%).
Posting double-digit percentage declines were gold buyers in the United Arab Emirates (down -71.9% from 2024), Singapore (down -41.6%), mainland China (down -32%), India (down -21.2%) and Italy (down -13%).
Average Prices Paid by Major Gold Importers
The worldwide average price for imported gold was US$78.788 million per ton. That dollar metric results from 68.2% in inflation from $46.834 million per ton in 2021 and a 37.1% acceleration from $57.452 million per ton one year earlier in 2024.
- Switzerland: US$80,677,940 per ton of imported gold (up 62.8% from 2024)
- United Kingdom: $111,968,128 per ton (up 43.9%)
- mainland China: $108,769,646 per ton (up 46.2%)
- Hong Kong: $108,030,865 per ton (up 46.4%)
- India: $92,564,852 per ton (up 29.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $96,075,928 per ton (up 26.9%)
- United States: $102,691,054 per ton (up 41.6%)
- Türkiye: $103,267,866 per ton (up 40.1%)
- Thailand: $110,592,383 per ton (up 42.6%)
- Singapore: $109,680,330 per ton (up 97.2%)
- Canada: $67,570,992 per ton (up 45.6%)
- Germany: $107,827,589 per ton (up 42.2%)
- Italy: $64,948,713 per ton (up 34.8%)
- Saudi Arabia: $105,811,426 per ton (up 102.1%)
- South Korea: $97,857,397 per ton (up 40.3%)
- Qatar: $110,008,678 per ton (up 75.5%)
Lowest average prices per ton were paid by major gold importers in Italy ($64.9 million), Canada ($67.6 million), the world-leading gold importer Switzerland ($80.7 million), and India ($92.6 million).
The highest charges per ton for imported gold were incurred by international buyers in the United Kingdom ($112 million), Thailand ($110.6 million), Qatar ($110 million), Singapore ($109.7 million) then mainland China ($108.8 million).
Gold Imports into Switzerland
Switzerland’s global purchases of imported gold totaled US$208.3 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Switzerland imported the highest dollar value worth of gold during 2025.
Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- United States: US$49.3 billion (up 319.8% from 2024)
- United Arab Emirates: $46.9 billion (up 278.6%)
- Canada: $8.9 billion (up 18.9%)
- Italy: $8.4 billion (up 233.8%)
- Germany: $7.4 billion (up 32.9%)
- Australia: $6.6 billion (up 52.5%)
- United Kingdom: $5.8 billion (up 49.9%)
- South Africa: $5.4 billion (up 95.7%)
- Thailand: $5.2 billion (up 138.7%)
- Uzbekistan: $4.63 billion (down -24.5%)
- Ghana: $4.56 billion (up 9.6%)
- Ivory Coast: $4.2 billion (up 56%)
- Japan: $4.1 billion (up 98.8%)
- Burkina Faso: $4.1 billion (up 29.8%)
- Hong Kong: $3.7 billion (up 1.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 81.2% of gold imported by Switzerland in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of gold to Switzerland from 2024 to 2025 were: United States of America (up 319.8%), United Arab Emirates (up 278.6%), Italy (up 233.8%) and Thailand (up 138.7%).
Uzbekistan was the lone buyer that decreased its gold purchases via a -24.5% slowdown.
Overall, the value of Switzerland’s imported gold boosted by an average 98% from all supplying countries since 2024 when gold purchased on international markets cost $105.2 billion.
Gold Imports into the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s global purchases of imported gold totaled US$153.7 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the UK imported the highest dollar value worth of gold during 2025.
Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Switzerland: US$40.7 billion (up 307.9% from 2024)
- Canada: $30 billion (up 58.6%)
- United States: $22.8 billion (up 110.8%)
- South Africa: $13.2 billion (up 104.1%)
- Australia: $11.7 billion (up 127.5%)
- Uzbekistan: $10.3 billion (up 199.2%)
- Germany: $3.3 billion (down -31.4%)
- Hong Kong: $2.9 billion (up 41.4%)
- Spain: $2.62 billion (up 60.8%)
- Mexico: $2.55 billion (up 46.9%)
- Singapore: $2.4 billion (up 212.6%)
- Japan: $1.9 billion (up 138.4%)
- Philippines: $1.5 billion (up 11429.7%)
- Brazil: $1.12 billion (up 49.6%)
- Austria: $1.09 billion (up 120.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.4% of gold imported by the United Kingdom in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of gold to the UK from 2024 to 2025 were: Philippines (up 11,430%), Switzerland (up 307.9%), Singapore (up 212.6%) and Uzbekistan (up 199.2%).
The lone top buyer to experience a decline in the value of their gold supplied to UK importers was Germany (down -31.4% from 2024).
Overall, the value of United Kingdom’s imported gold accelerated by an average 99.2% from all supplying countries since 2024 when gold purchased on international markets cost $77.2 billion.
Gold Imports into China
Mainland China’s global purchases of imported gold totaled US$102.2 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of gold during 2025.
Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Hong Kong: US$26.5 billion (up 89.9% from 2024)
- Switzerland: $25.9 billion (down -35.1%)
- Canada: $11.1 billion (down -40.2%)
- South Africa: $9.4 billion (up 4.3%)
- Australia: $8.8 billion (up 5.9%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $5 billion (up 86.6%)
- Germany: $3.7 billion (up 31.8%)
- Russia: $3.3 billion (up 1,365%)
- Kazakhstan: $1.9 billion (up 2,509%)
- Singapore: $1.3 billion (up 12.5%)
- Japan: $1.2 billion (down -27.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $599.2 million (up 80.1%)
- Taiwan: $587.5 million (up 75.4%)
- Guyana: $324 million (up 183%)
- Laos: $285.5 million (up 409.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.6% of gold imported by mainland China in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of gold to China from 2024 to 2025 were: Kazakhstan (up 2,509%), Russia (up 1,365%), Laos (up 409.1%) and Guyana (up 183%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their gold supplied to Chinese importers were: Canada (down -40.2% from 2024), Switzerland (down -35.1%) and Japan (down -27.7%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported gold slowed by an average -0.6% from all supplying countries since 2024 when gold purchased on international markets cost $102.9 billion.
Gold Imports into Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s global purchases of imported gold totaled US$101.8 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong imported the highest dollar value worth of gold during 2025.
Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- United Arab Emirates: US$28.1 billion (up 77% from 2024)
- mainland China: $23.6 billion (up 117.8%)
- Japan: $13.1 billion (up 30.2%)
- Russia: $10.5 billion (up 125.3%)
- United States: $6.1 billion (up 900.5%)
- Australia: $6.1 billion (up 11.8%)
- United Kingdom: $3.3 billion (up 80.6%)
- South Africa: $3.11 billion (up 515.3%)
- Switzerland: $1.84 billion (down -69.7%)
- Uganda: $1.3 billion (up 157.9%)
- Philippines: $844.8 million (down -28.3%)
- Singapore: $725.4 million (down -24.4%)
- Taiwan: $600.5 million (up 37.1%)
- Canada: $509.4 million (down -69.3%)
- Guyana: $339.2 million (up 199.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 75.2% of gold imported by Hong Kong in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of gold to Hong Kong from 2024 to 2025 were: United States (up 900.5%), South Africa (up 515.3%), Guyana (up 199.6%) and Uganda (up 157.9%).
Countries that experienced year-over-year declines in the value of their gold supplied to Hong Kong’s importers were: Switzerland (down -69.7%), Canada (down -69.3%), Philippines (down -28.3%) and Singapore (down -24.4%).
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported gold rose by an average 55.5% from all supplying countries since 2024 when gold purchased on international markets cost $65.5 billion.
See also Gold Exports by Country, Switzerland’s Top Trading Partners, China’s Top 10 Imports, India’s Top 10 Imports and United Kingdom’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on June 17, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 17, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 17, 2026
Wikipedia, Gold. Accessed on June 17, 2026