Lebanon’s gold reserve is one of the state’s most important strategic assets. Official holdings total about 286.8 tonnes, or approximately 9.9 million ounces. This places Lebanon twentieth worldwide by the size of its gold reserve and second among Arab countries after Saudi Arabia.

The stock is divided between Lebanon and the United States. About 6.6 million ounces are kept in a fortified vault at Banque du Liban, while approximately 3.3 million ounces—close to one third of the reserve—are held at Fort Knox in Kentucky. That portion was moved during the Lebanese Civil War to protect it from the security risks of the time, including threats posed by militias, the Israeli army and Palestinian organizations.

The figures have been internationally documented. An international audit verified that the physical gold matched the corresponding entry on Banque du Liban’s balance sheet. ASS Inspection UK carried out the work for KPMG in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, examining more than 13,000 gold bars and around 600,000 gold coins to reconcile the holdings with the official records.

Lebanon’s financial crisis has led many to ask whether the reserve could help rescue the country. The answer depends on the legal, economic and political choices governing this strategic asset. That debate is distinct from the established facts about its quantity and location, which confirm that Lebanon holds one of the largest gold reserves in the region and the world.

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