Mumbai: Global demand for gold has crossed 5,000 tonnes to reach a new all-time high in 2025, mainly driven by investments, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report on Thursday. Total gold demand hit a new all-time high of 5,002 tonnes in 2025, up from 4,961.9 tonnes in the previous year, as the investment demand surged to 2,175.3 tonnes compared to 1,185.4 tonnes in 2024, driven by safe-haven and diversification factors, according to the WGC’s Full-Year 2025 Gold Demand Trends report. In the October-December quarter, the consumer demand went up by 2 per cent to 1,345.3 tonnes compared with 1,318.5 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. Meanwhile, Central bank demand remained elevated in 2025, with the official sector adding 863 tonnes of gold, as the buying gained momentum in the fourth quarter (October-December) at 230 tonnes. “With economic and geopolitical instability showing little sign of retreat in 2026, momentum from last year’s strong gold demand is likely to persist.