Older females linked to gold reserves
Comparing Population ages 65 and above, female (% of female population) with Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita across 171 countries, 2025–2025.
- Rank correlation
- +0.67
- Holding size constant
- +0.56
- Countries compared
- 171
- Period
- 2025–2025
What might link these
The correlation might be driven by countries' economic stability and social security, which could influence both gold reserves and elderly population percentages. A careful reader should consider life expectancy and healthcare quality as potential confounders. The relationship could be indirect, with multiple factors at play.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a direct link between gold reserves and elderly population, when in fact it may be driven by underlying economic and social factors.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.