The dollar leaves gold
The United States ended Bretton Woods, freeing gold from its 35 dollar peg and starting free trading.
Gold price history since 1960
Monthly average gold prices since January 1960 in riyals per gram and dollars per ounce, summarized by year, with the highest monthly average, an interactive chart and full data download.
Highest monthly average
605.24 SAR
SAR per gram, 24K · February 2026
First value (1960) (1960)
5.06 SAR
equals $35.00 per ounce
Lowest (January 1960)
5.06 SAR
equals $35.00 per ounce
Latest month (September 2026)
520.72 SAR
Below the high by 14.0%
Months in series
801
months since January 1960
24K gold gram price in SAR since 1960
Monthly averages · log scale shows percentage moves evenly across decades · converted to riyals at each period's exchange rate
Gold price by year (SAR per gram, 24K)
Open = January average, Close = December average (or latest month)| Year | Open | High | Low | Close | Year range | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | ||||||
| 2026 to date | 573.05 | 605.24 | 491.06 | 520.72 | ▲ 0.2% | |
| 2025 | 326.73 | 519.52 | 326.73 | 519.52 | ▲ 62.7% | |
| 2024 | 245.23 | 324.32 | 243.90 | 319.26 | ▲ 30.7% | |
| 2023 | 228.83 | 244.27 | 223.65 | 244.27 | ▲ 12.7% | |
| 2022 | 218.95 | 234.86 | 200.62 | 216.78 | ▲ 0.4% | |
| 2021 | 225.10 | 225.10 | 207.13 | 215.81 | ▼ 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 188.20 | 237.39 | 188.20 | 224.01 | ▲ 25.6% | |
| 2010s | ||||||
| 2019 | 155.77 | 182.17 | 154.81 | 178.32 | ▲ 18.3% | |
| 2018 | 160.47 | 160.95 | 144.44 | 150.71 | ▼ 1.1% | |
| 2017 | 143.71 | 158.42 | 143.71 | 152.39 | ▲ 9.2% | |
| 2016 | 132.38 | 161.56 | 132.38 | 139.49 | ▲ 7.5% | |
| 2015 | 150.83 | 150.83 | 129.73 | 129.73 | ▼ 10.4% | |
| 2014 | 149.98 | 161.08 | 141.66 | 144.80 | ▼ 1.7% | |
| 2013 | 201.59 | 201.59 | 147.33 | 147.33 | ▼ 27.5% | |
| 2012 | 199.42 | 210.63 | 191.58 | 203.15 | ▲ 2.7% | |
| 2011 | 163.97 | 213.64 | 163.97 | 197.73 | ▲ 17.9% | |
| 2010 | 134.79 | 167.71 | 132.02 | 167.71 | ▲ 22.6% | |
| 2000s | ||||||
| 2009 | 103.57 | 136.84 | 103.57 | 136.84 | ▲ 39.1% | |
| 2008 | 107.30 | 116.71 | 91.75 | 98.38 | ▲ 1.6% | |
| 2007 | 76.08 | 97.18 | 76.08 | 96.81 | ▲ 27.4% | |
| 2006 | 66.31 | 81.38 | 66.31 | 75.96 | ▲ 23.5% | |
| 2005 | 51.12 | 61.49 | 50.88 | 61.49 | ▲ 15.4% | |
| 2004 | 49.91 | 53.29 | 46.30 | 53.29 | ▲ 8.6% | |
| 2003 | 43.04 | 49.07 | 39.55 | 49.07 | ▲ 22.6% | |
| 2002 | 34.00 | 40.03 | 34.00 | 40.03 | ▲ 20.3% | |
| 2001 | 31.95 | 34.12 | 31.35 | 33.28 | ▲ 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 34.24 | 36.17 | 32.07 | 32.67 | ▼ 4.2% | |
| 1990s | ||||||
| 1999 | 34.60 | 37.50 | 30.86 | 34.12 | ▼ 3.1% | |
| 1998 | 34.84 | 37.13 | 34.24 | 35.21 | ▲ 1.1% | |
| 1997 | 42.80 | 42.80 | 34.84 | 34.84 | ▼ 21.7% | |
| 1996 | 48.11 | 48.83 | 44.49 | 44.49 | ▼ 4.7% | |
| 1995 | 45.69 | 47.14 | 45.45 | 46.66 | ▲ 2.1% | |
| 1994 | 46.66 | 47.26 | 45.45 | 45.69 | ▼ 1.1% | |
| 1993 | 39.67 | 47.26 | 39.67 | 46.18 | ▲ 14.3% | |
| 1992 | 42.68 | 42.68 | 40.39 | 40.39 | ▼ 7.4% | |
| 1991 | 46.30 | 46.30 | 42.08 | 43.64 | ▼ 4.0% | |
| 1990 | 49.43 | 50.28 | 42.44 | 45.45 | ▼ 7.8% | |
| 1980s | ||||||
| 1989 | 48.71 | 49.31 | 43.64 | 49.31 | ▼ 2.4% | |
| 1988 | 57.51 | 57.51 | 49.07 | 50.52 | ▼ 13.8% | |
| 1987 | 49.19 | 58.59 | 48.35 | 58.59 | ▲ 25.8% | |
| 1986 | 41.35 | 50.52 | 40.39 | 46.59 | ▲ 24.2% | |
| 1985 | 35.29 | 38.43 | 34.82 | 37.50 | ▲ 3.4% | |
| 1984 | 42.03 | 44.64 | 36.25 | 36.25 | ▼ 15.9% | |
| 1983 | 53.43 | 54.54 | 42.43 | 43.10 | ▼ 12.1% | |
| 1982 | 42.32 | 49.05 | 34.72 | 49.05 | ▲ 10.0% | |
| 1981 | 60.57 | 60.57 | 44.48 | 44.59 | ▼ 22.5% | |
| 1980 | 72.20 | 72.20 | 54.98 | 57.54 | ▲ 17.0% | |
| 1970s | ||||||
| 1979 | 24.53 | 49.16 | 24.53 | 49.16 | ▲ 116.3% | |
| 1978 | 18.91 | 24.81 | 18.91 | 22.73 | ▲ 25.4% | |
| 1977 | 14.96 | 18.36 | 14.96 | 18.13 | ▲ 19.2% | |
| 1976 | 14.87 | 15.21 | 12.48 | 15.21 | ▼ 3.2% | |
| 1975 | 19.90 | 20.36 | 15.72 | 15.72 | ▼ 25.1% | |
| 1974 | 14.72 | 21.00 | 14.72 | 21.00 | ▲ 64.7% | |
| 1973 | 7.75 | 14.30 | 7.75 | 12.75 | ▲ 49.5% | |
| 1972 | 6.13 | 8.93 | 6.13 | 8.53 | ▲ 37.6% | |
| 1971 | 5.48 | 6.20 | 5.48 | 6.20 | ▲ 15.9% | |
| 1970 | 5.06 | 5.50 | 5.06 | 5.35 | ▲ 5.7% | |
| 1960s | ||||||
| 1969 | 6.08 | 6.22 | 5.06 | 5.06 | ▼ 14.7% | |
| 1968 | 5.21 | 5.93 | 5.21 | 5.93 | ▲ 17.2% | |
| 1967 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1966 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1965 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1964 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1963 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1962 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1961 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 0.0% | |
| 1960 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.06 | ||
Source: World Bank monthly commodity price data in nominal US dollars, converted to riyals. Values are SAR per gram of 24K gold, SAR per gram of silver, and SAR per kilogram of copper.
Key moments in the history of the gold price
The inflation peak
The monthly average jumped to a record amid inflation and geopolitical tension, then began a two decade decline.
The riyal peg
The riyal was fixed at 3.75 per dollar, so the gold price in riyals has moved in step with the dollar price since.
The bottom
Prices hit a two decade low as the dollar strengthened and central banks sold part of their reserves.
After the financial crisis
Gold passed 1,900 dollars an ounce with quantitative easing and euro area debt fears.
The pandemic
Gold broke 2,000 dollars an ounce for the first time as rates fell to zero and liquidity surged.
Successive records
Gold set successive records on central bank buying, lower real rates and geopolitical uncertainty, with the monthly average peaking in February 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest gold price?
The highest monthly average and its date are at the top of this page from the historical series. Daily prices may exceed it on specific days.
Where does the data come from?
World Bank monthly commodity price data in nominal dollars, converted to riyals at each period's rate: annual averages before 1987, 3.75 after.
Are prices inflation adjusted?
No, prices are nominal as traded at the time. Keep that in mind when comparing eras.
Can I use the data?
Yes. The CSV is available in Arabic and English with its source; credit the World Bank and this site when publishing.