Charted: The Growth of Gold and Silver in Modern U.S. Retirement Assets

Published

October 16, 2026 7:51 am

By

Cody Good

Design

• Zack Aboulazm

The following content is sponsored by U.S. Money Reserve

Key Takeaways

• U.S. gold IRA assets rose from $2 billion in 2005 to $76 billion in 2025, a 38x increase.

• U.S. silver IRA assets grew 19x over the same period, rising from $1 billion to $19 billion as precious metals gained ground in retirement planning.

U.S. precious metals IRA assets climbed from $3 billion in 2005 to $95 billion in 2025, led by a 38x increase in gold IRA assets.

This graphic, sponsored by U.S. Money Reserve, shows the estimated growth of gold and silver IRA assets over the past 20 years using analysis from Equity Enterprise Solutions.

Gold Becomes the Anchor

Gold has become the anchor of modern U.S. precious metals retirement accounts. In 2005, gold IRA assets were estimated at $2 billion. By 2025, that figure had grown to $76 billion.

YearSilver IRA ($B)Gold IRA ($B)Total PM IRA ($B)

2005123

201041418

201531316

202083341

2025197695

Source: Equity Enterprise Solutions

20-Year Estimated Analysis (2005-2025) constructed from World Gold Council, Silver Institute, ICI, and SDIRA industry data by Equity Enterprise Solutions.

Silver IRA assets also grew, rising from $1 billion in 2005 to $19 billion in 2025. Together, gold and silver IRA assets reached an estimated $95 billion by 2025.

By comparison, the value of retail goldpurchases grew more modestly, from roughly $4 billion in 2010 to an estimated $6 billion in 2025.

Gold and Silver Gain Ground

Traditional retirement assets still play a major role, but gold and silver IRAs are gaining ground.

Gold’s rise is especially notable because it is often viewed differently from paper assets. It does not depend on earnings, dividends, or interest payments, which can make it appealing during periods of uncertainty, inflation, and market volatility.

Precious Metals in Retirement Planning

The growth of gold and silver IRA assets, from $3 billion to $95 billion, shows how physical precious metals are becoming a larger part of long-term retirement strategies.

For consumers looking to diversify retirement assets with physical precious metals, U.S. Money Reserve can help explain the options available.

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Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/usmr01-charted-the-growth-of-gold-and-silver-in-modern-u-s-retirement-assets/