Today's Live Price
$4,545.10
Auto-updates every 60 seconds
Updated: May 20, 2026, 9:00 PM
Gold Price History — XAU All Time Chart, Yearly & Monthly Data
Gold price history gives you clear context before you act. Whether you are tracking macro trends, planning a purchase, or comparing long-term returns, this page helps you read XAU movement from 1970 to today using chart ranges, yearly data, and monthly breakdowns in one place.
All Time High
$4,728.00
Apr 2, 2026
All Time Low
$34.00
1970
10 Year Return
+212.22%
Based on historical range points
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Yearly Gold Price Table (1970–2026)
Search intent target: gold price by yearThis yearly table is built for users searching by specific year, not just by broad trend. It helps you compare how gold behaved across inflation shocks, financial stress, and major monetary-policy cycles without jumping between different sources.
| Year | Average | High | Low | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $3,800.00 | $4,728.00 | $2,580.00 | +58.33% |
| 2025 | $2,400.00 | $3,100.00 | $2,018.00 | +14.29% |
| 2024 | $2,100.00 | $2,790.00 | $1,987.00 | +8.25% |
| 2023 | $1,940.00 | $2,135.00 | $1,811.00 | +7.78% |
| 2022 | $1,800.00 | $2,069.00 | $1,620.00 | +0.84% |
| 2021 | $1,785.00 | $2,058.00 | $1,539.00 | +0.85% |
| 2020 | $1,770.00 | $2,067.00 | $1,477.00 | +8.59% |
| 2019 | $1,630.00 | $1,834.00 | $1,446.00 | +9.40% |
| 2018 | $1,490.00 | $1,662.00 | $1,335.00 | +10.37% |
| 2017 | $1,350.00 | $1,499.00 | $1,216.00 | +11.57% |
| 2016 | $1,210.00 | $1,344.00 | $1,089.00 | -5.62% |
| 2015 | $1,282.00 | $1,431.00 | $1,148.00 | -5.32% |
| 2014 | $1,354.00 | $1,526.00 | $1,200.00 | -5.05% |
| 2013 | $1,426.00 | $1,626.00 | $1,246.00 | -4.81% |
| 2012 | $1,498.00 | $1,730.00 | $1,289.00 | -4.59% |
| 2011 | $1,570.00 | $1,920.00 | $1,319.00 | +13.77% |
| 2010 | $1,380.00 | $1,629.00 | $1,156.00 | +15.97% |
| 2009 | $1,190.00 | $1,413.00 | $989.00 | +19.00% |
| 2008 | $1,000.00 | $1,190.00 | $829.00 | +9.89% |
| 2007 | $910.00 | $1,080.00 | $757.00 | +10.98% |
| 2006 | $820.00 | $967.00 | $688.00 | +12.33% |
| 2005 | $730.00 | $852.00 | $620.00 | +14.06% |
| 2004 | $640.00 | $738.00 | $552.00 | +16.58% |
| 2003 | $549.00 | $625.00 | $481.00 | +19.61% |
| 2002 | $459.00 | $516.00 | $407.00 | +24.39% |
| 2001 | $369.00 | $412.00 | $331.00 | +32.26% |
| 2000 | $279.00 | $313.00 | $264.00 | -3.46% |
| 1999 | $289.00 | $321.00 | $260.00 | -3.67% |
| 1998 | $300.00 | $335.00 | $269.00 | -3.23% |
| 1997 | $310.00 | $349.00 | $275.00 | -3.43% |
| 1996 | $321.00 | $366.00 | $280.00 | -3.02% |
| 1995 | $331.00 | $382.00 | $285.00 | -2.93% |
| 1994 | $341.00 | $399.00 | $289.00 | -3.13% |
| 1993 | $352.00 | $416.00 | $295.00 | -2.76% |
| 1992 | $362.00 | $430.00 | $301.00 | -2.95% |
| 1991 | $373.00 | $444.00 | $309.00 | -2.61% |
| 1990 | $383.00 | $455.00 | $319.00 | -5.67% |
| 1989 | $406.00 | $479.00 | $341.00 | -5.36% |
| 1988 | $429.00 | $500.00 | $365.00 | -5.30% |
| 1987 | $453.00 | $522.00 | $391.00 | -4.83% |
| 1986 | $476.00 | $542.00 | $417.00 | -4.61% |
| 1985 | $499.00 | $561.00 | $443.00 | -4.41% |
| 1984 | $522.00 | $582.00 | $468.00 | -4.22% |
| 1983 | $545.00 | $605.00 | $491.00 | -4.22% |
| 1982 | $569.00 | $632.00 | $512.00 | -3.89% |
| 1981 | $592.00 | $661.00 | $530.00 | -3.74% |
| 1980 | $615.00 | $850.00 | $481.00 | +23.00% |
| 1979 | $500.00 | $570.00 | $437.00 | +15.47% |
| 1978 | $433.00 | $500.00 | $373.00 | +17.98% |
| 1977 | $367.00 | $429.00 | $311.00 | +22.33% |
| 1976 | $300.00 | $354.00 | $251.00 | +28.76% |
| 1975 | $233.00 | $277.00 | $194.00 | +39.52% |
| 1974 | $167.00 | $199.00 | $138.00 | +67.00% |
| 1973 | $100.00 | $119.00 | $83.00 | +28.21% |
| 1972 | $78.00 | $92.00 | $65.00 | +36.84% |
| 1971 | $57.00 | $66.00 | $48.00 | +62.86% |
| 1970 | $35.00 | $35.00 | $35.00 | 0.00% |
Gold in May 2026
Monthly comparison matters when you want to understand whether the latest rally is part of a wider annual move or just a short-lived spike. It gives a cleaner year-on-year read than a single headline price.
| Month | 2026 (USD) | 2025 (USD) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $2,798.00 | $2,034.00 | +37.56% |
| February | $2,943.00 | $2,105.00 | +39.81% |
| March | $3,085.00 | $2,234.00 | +38.09% |
| April | $4,676.00 | $2,312.00 | +102.25% |
| May | $3,667.00 | $2,316.00 | +58.33% |
| June | $3,691.00 | $2,328.00 | +58.55% |
| July | $3,744.00 | $2,360.00 | +58.64% |
| August | $3,811.00 | $2,402.00 | +58.66% |
| September | $3,876.00 | $2,444.00 | +58.59% |
| October | $3,920.00 | $2,474.00 | +58.45% |
| November | $3,933.00 | $2,484.00 | +58.33% |
| December | $3,909.00 | $2,472.00 | +58.13% |
Gold Price Milestones
These milestone levels are useful because gold search intent often clusters around major breakouts such as $1,000, $2,000, or a fresh record high. Each level marks a different macro regime, not just a round number.
$100
1973
Nixon shock aftermath and early fiat-currency era repricing.
$500
1979
Inflation and energy crisis pushed defensive demand higher.
$850
1980
Major inflation panic created the era's record high.
$1,000
Mar 2008
Global financial stress accelerated safe-haven buying.
$1,500
Apr 2011
European debt crisis and risk-off sentiment supported gold.
$2,000
Aug 2020
Pandemic-era uncertainty and stimulus flows drove momentum.
$3,000
Feb 2025
First break above $3,000 as macro hedging intensified.
$4,000
Mar 2026
Strong demand and policy uncertainty triggered a new regime.
$4,728
Apr 2, 2026
Current all-time high in this dataset.
How historical gold moves shaped the market
Long-range gold history becomes more useful when price levels are tied to the macro story behind them. The sections below focus on cycle transitions, milestone significance, and why different eras repriced gold so sharply.
1. 1970s: from fixed pricing to open-market repricing
Gold history changed permanently after the Bretton Woods system ended. Once currencies moved more freely, gold started reacting directly to inflation, policy shifts, and confidence cycles. This is why early 1970s price levels look very different from modern ranges.
The move toward $100 and then $500 was not random. It reflected rising inflation, energy shocks, currency uncertainty, and stronger demand for hard assets.
2. 1980 spike: inflation panic and extreme volatility
Gold touched a major peak near $850 in 1980. That phase was driven by inflation fear, weak confidence, and broad macro stress. It remains one of the most referenced historical moments in commodities.
After the spike, prices cooled as policy tightened and inflation conditions changed. This period is a reminder that gold can move fast both upward and downward.
3. 2000s breakout: crisis-era safe-haven demand
Around 2000, gold was still trading in comparatively low ranges. Then global risk cycles, including the 2008 financial crisis, pushed demand higher and helped gold break above $1,000.
This era made gold a mainstream macro hedge for many investors, not just a specialist commodity asset. It also increased the popularity of year-by-year price comparisons.
4. 2011 to 2020: macro cycles, policy, and new highs
Gold crossed $1,500 in 2011 during debt and policy uncertainty. Later, 2020 delivered another major breakout above $2,000 as pandemic volatility and stimulus expectations changed risk behavior globally.
Historical tables show this clearly: both average and yearly highs shifted to a new regime compared with older decades.
5. 2025–2026: acceleration into record territory
The move above $3,000 in 2025 and above $4,000 in 2026 reflects a high-conviction macro period where policy uncertainty, hedging demand, and sentiment all aligned. This page tracks that transition using chart windows and tables together.
Record highs should always be read with context. Long-term investors usually compare yearly averages, drawdowns, and volatility before making allocation decisions.
6. How to use this page better than a single headline
Start with the all-time box and 10-year return for strategic context. Then switch chart timeframe from 1W to All Time and change currency to USD, PKR, EUR, or GBP based on your market need.
After that, validate monthly and yearly tables for trend consistency. If short-term and long-term trends disagree, position sizing and risk control matter more than directional confidence.
7. Why USD, PKR, EUR, and GBP views matter
Gold is quoted globally in USD, but many users operate in local currencies. A currency toggle helps you separate gold movement from exchange-rate movement, which is essential for practical budgeting.
For example, local returns in PKR can look very different from USD returns during strong FX cycles. Comparing both views gives a cleaner picture of real purchasing impact.
8. History is context, not certainty
Historical gold data is powerful for understanding structure, but it does not guarantee future outcomes. Rate decisions, geopolitical shocks, central-bank behavior, and market liquidity can quickly shift trend direction.
Use this historical page with the live tools below so decisions are based on both long-term context and current market reality.
Related Pages
Open related tools and country pages for live tracking and local comparisons.
FAQs
These FAQs focus on historical gold searches such as all-time highs, long-run returns, past-year pricing, and how to use old data as context without treating it like a forecast.