How much did global gold ETFs attract in inflows in 2025?

$89 billion, the strongest annual inflows on record.

What was the total AUM for gold ETFs in 2025?

$559 billion, more than double from previous levels.

WGC: Global Gold ETFs See Record Inflows, AUM Hits All-Time High in 2025

Gold | 2026-01-12 12:23:58

North America accounted for the bulk of inflows, while Asian holdings nearly doubled and Europe also posted solid gains.

By Paul Ploumis

Summary

Historic ETF Inflows: Gold-backed ETFs saw $89B in annual inflows, driven by North American investors, marking the strongest performance since 1979.
Record Assets & Holdings: Total AUM rose to $559B; global ETF gold holdings reached 4,025 tonnes, up from 3,224 tonnes in 2024.
Drivers of Demand: Safe-haven buying amid geopolitical tensions, momentum buying from price rallies, and lower opportunity costs fueled investor interest.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Global gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) delivered a historic performance in 2025, reflecting unprecedented investor appetite amid record-breaking gold prices and heightened market uncertainty.

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According to newly published data dated 8 January 2026, global gold ETFs recorded their strongest annual inflows on record, driven primarily by North American investors. As gold prices hit new highs 53 times during the year, annual inflows surged to US$89 billion, marking the metal’s strongest performance since 1979.

Key highlights from 2025

· Gold ETFs’ total assets under management (AUM) more than doubled to a record US$559 billion

· Global ETF gold holdings climbed to an all-time high of 4,025 tonnes, up from 3,224 tonnes in 2024

· Estimated investor demand ranked as the second strongest on record, outside prior crisis periods

North America accounted for the bulk of inflows, while Asian holdings nearly doubled and Europe also posted solid gains. Investor interest was underpinned by:

· Rising safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions and trade disputes

· Momentum buying as gold prices continued to rally

· Falling opportunity costs due to lower US Treasury yields and a weaker dollar

Meanwhile, global gold market liquidity reached a record US$361 billion per day in 2025, with exchange-traded, OTC, and ETF segments all posting robust growth, underscoring gold’s expanding role in global investment portfolios.