What gold is used for
Most gold is never used up. It is bought to be kept, as bars and coins, as jewelry and in central bank reserves. A smaller share goes into electronics, where gold is prized because it conducts well and never corrodes. In 2025, world demand for gold reached a record 5,002 tonnes.
- Investment2,175 t (44%)Bars and coins took 1,374 t and gold funds (ETFs) 801 t.
- Jewelry1,542 t (31%)Down 18% by weight from 2024 as prices climbed, though the amount spent on jewelry rose.
- Central banks863 t (17%)Net buying by central banks adding gold to their reserves.
- Technology323 t (6%)Mostly electronics (270 t), such as connectors, contacts and bonding wire. The World Gold Council says AI-related hardware helped hold this steady.
Tonnes of gold in 2025, with each use as a share of total demand of 5,002 t. Source: World Gold Council.
Why people buy gold
- A long-term store of value. Gold can’t be printed, and it has been treated as money for thousands of years. Many buyers hold it to protect savings against a weaker dollar over the long run.
- It isn’t anyone’s promise. A bar you hold doesn’t depend on a bank, broker or government paying you back.
- It often moves differently from stocks and bonds. That is why some people keep a small part of their savings in gold, to steady the whole.
- Small sizes are easy to buy and sell. Gram bars let you buy as little as you like, add to it over time, and sell part of what you hold.
- Central banks are buyers too. They added 863 tonnes to their reserves in 2025.
Things to weigh first
- The price swings. Gold can fall sharply and take years to recover.
- It pays no income. There’s no interest or dividend. Any return comes from the price rising.
- Buying and selling has a cost. Bullion sells for more than spot and dealers buy it back for less, so the price has to rise before you break even.
- It needs keeping safe. At home that means a safe and insurance that covers bullion. Vaulting at EA Bullion is coming soon.
- Taxes. In the US, gains on physical gold are generally taxed as collectibles, at a top federal rate of 28% for metal held more than a year. Ask a tax adviser about your own situation.
Questions about the gold price
What is the spot price of gold?
It’s the price of one troy ounce of gold for immediate delivery in the wholesale market, quoted in US dollars. Bars and coins sell for more than spot, because refining, minting, shipping and dealing all cost money.
What do bid and ask mean?
The bid is the highest price wholesale buyers are offering right now. The ask is the lowest price sellers will accept. The gap between them is the spread. The large price on this page is the mid-market price, halfway between the two.
How many grams are in a troy ounce?
A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, and a kilo is 32.15 troy ounces. Precious metals are weighed in troy ounces, which are about 10% heavier than the 28.35-gram ounce used for food.
When does the market trade?
Almost around the clock on weekdays, from Sunday evening to Friday evening US Eastern time, as trading passes between Asia, London and New York. Prices stand still over the weekend, and this page says when markets are closed.
How often does this page update?
Every 15 seconds while you have it open. The chart is drawn from prices EA Bullion has recorded itself, so the longer ranges fill in over time.
Sources
This page is general information, not investment, tax or legal advice. Spot prices are indicative wholesale prices. Products cost more than spot, and the price you pay is shown in the shop and fixed when you lock your order.