Based on historical production and discovered reserves, the countries from which the most gold has originated are China, Australia, and South Africa.
Global Gold Discovery Snapshot
Approximately 244,000 metric tons of gold have been discovered throughout history. This total amount is divided into:
- 187,000 metric tons: Gold that has been historically produced and brought above ground.
- 57,000 metric tons: Estimated current underground gold reserves that are yet to be mined.
The vast majority of this discovered gold, particularly the historically produced amount, has come from a limited number of key mining nations.
Countries with the Largest Gold Sources
The reference highlights that most of the world's discovered gold has been sourced from just three countries. These nations have historically dominated global gold production:
| Country | Significance |
|---|---|
| China | Among the top historical and current producers |
| Australia | A major source country with significant deposits |
| South Africa | Historically a dominant global gold producer |
These three countries are recognized as having contributed the largest shares to the total amount of gold discovered and produced on Earth over time.
