Baghdad: Iraq has entered the list of the largest central banks purchasing gold last year, according to data issued by the World Gold Council, in a move reflecting the country’s trend towards strengthening its reserves of the precious metal.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the World Gold Council data showed that Iraq ranked eighth globally, after the Central Bank of Iraq purchased approximately 11.9 tons of gold during 2025, thus placing it among the top ten countries worldwide in this field.

Poland topped the list, followed by Kazakhstan, then Brazil, Azerbaijan in fourth place, China in fifth, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Iraq in eighth, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan, amid a growing global trend among central banks to bolster their gold reserves and reduce their reliance on foreign currencies.