Gold Price History · The Free-Float Era
2021 in context · real value, 2001–2025
In 2021, gold averaged $1,799 an ounce — about $2,138 in today's money. That was up 1.6% on the year in nominal terms (−3.0% after inflation). In the free-float era the price is set entirely by markets, so each year carries its own distinct story of inflation, crisis, and confidence in paper money.
To see 2021 in the full sweep of the gold price, explore the 768-year ribbon, or find out what a 2021 gold investment would be worth today on the gold calculator.
Run the numbers across gold, stocks, housing, and bonds — adjusted for inflation.
Calculate 2021 →Value at year-end of $10,000 invested on 1 January 2021.
Annual-average basis. Gold: Officer & Williamson; S&P 500 & Treasuries: Damodaran (NYU); housing: Shiller; CPI: BLS. Methodology →
Sources. Gold price: Officer & Williamson, The Price of Gold, 1257–Present (annual average); inflation adjustment by US CPI (BLS / Officer & Williamson). Asset comparison from the calculator dataset. Figures are annual averages. Full methodology →