return of investments rate based year to date as of 31 December of each year
Supplementary notes
The London Bullion Market Association Gold Price is set twice daily, once at 10.30 am (AM), and again at 3.00 pm (PM). The price is set in U.S. dollars per troy ounce.Â
Gold is the most popular precious metal in the investment industry. The rate of return for gold investments fluctuated significantly during the period from 2000 to 2024 but generated positive returns in most years of the observed period. The rate of return of gold as an investment reached more than ** percent in 2025, the highest recorded since 2000.
Why is gold valuable?
Gold is a precious metal with several practical uses, particularly in technology. For example, NASA uses gold to improve its lasers and protect sensitive things in space, including a part of the visor for its astronauts. However, a large share of the demand for gold worldwide is as an investment, particularly by central banks. Gold serves the purpose of an alternative to currency because it is relatively scarce but still has enough mine production to serve the financial sector.
Gold as an investment
Under the Bretton Woods agreement after World War II, the world’s major currencies were tied to the value of gold. This system, called the Gold Standard, ended in 1971. Still, most countries maintain significant gold reserves. Due to this history and the overall faith in the value of gold, the average gold price tends to increase in times of recession, making it an attractive investment in uncertain times.
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World Gold Council. (January 9, 2026). Rate of return of gold as an investment based on the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price PM in U.S. dollars from 2002 to 2025 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/
World Gold Council. "Rate of return of gold as an investment based on the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price PM in U.S. dollars from 2002 to 2025." Chart. January 9, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 21, 2026. /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/
World Gold Council. (2026). Rate of return of gold as an investment based on the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price PM in U.S. dollars from 2002 to 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2026. /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/
World Gold Council. "Rate of Return of Gold as An Investment Based on The London Bullion Market Association Gold Price Pm in U.S. Dollars from 2002 to 2025." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 9 Jan 2026, /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/
World Gold Council, Rate of return of gold as an investment based on the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price PM in U.S. dollars from 2002 to 2025 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/ (last visited July 21, 2026)
Rate of return of gold as an investment based on the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price PM in U.S. dollars from 2002 to 2025 [Graph], World Gold Council, January 9, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/274002/return-on-gold-as-an-investment-since-2002/
