Total gold demand in 2025 exceeded 5,000 tonnes for the first time. Combined with the record-breaking run in gold prices, which set 53 new all-time highs during the year, this yielded an unprecedented value of $555 billion, a growth of 45 percent, according to a report released by the World Gold Council (WGC) on Thursday.

Gold prices marched ahead on the day, hovering just shy of $5,600 an ounce, hitting another record high.

In 2025, gold demand for investment surged 84 percent to 2,175.3 tonnes. Central banks purchased 863.3 tonnes of gold in the past year.

"Technology demand was stable despite disruption in the consumer electronics space, supported by continued growth in AI-related applications," the report said.

This year, with continued geopolitical tensions, the WGC expects strong gold ETF inflows and robust bar and coin demand, underpinned by elevated central bank buying.