세계 금 대출 시장 규모는 2024년 1,338억 7,000만 달러에서 예측 기간 동안 4.02%의 연평균 복합 성장률(CAGR)로 2032년에는 1,834억 9,000만 달러로 증가할 것으로 예측됩니다.
이 시장은 특히 신흥국을 중심으로 접근성, 안전성, 개인 맞춤형 대출에 대한 수요가 증가함에 따라 빠르게 성장하고 있습니다. 단기 자금 수요 증가, 금융 포용을 위한 정책, 비공식적 대출에서 공식적 대출로 전환하는 추세 등이 성장을 가속하는 요인으로 작용하고 있습니다. 금 대출은 신용점수에 의존하지 않고 신속하게 자금을 조달할 수 있는 담보 대출 수단으로, 특히 은행 계좌가 없는 사람들이 많은 지역에서 효과적인 금융 상품으로 자리 잡고 있습니다.
금 시장은 세계 경제 전반에 걸쳐 성장기를 맞이하고 있으며, 특히 금을 가계 자산으로 간주하는 신흥국에서 그 경향이 두드러집니다. 금 대출은 담보가 있는 대출 서비스이며, 절차가 간단하고 대출까지의 속도가 빠르며, 필요한 서류가 최소화되어 많은 사람들에게 매력적인 선택이 되고 있습니다. 이를 통해 은행이 은행 계좌가 없는 언뱅크드 계층이나 충분한 금융 서비스를 받지 못하는 언더뱅크드 계층에 접근하는 데 있어 장벽이 낮아지고 있습니다. 또한, 생활비 상승과 저렴한 금리로 대출을 받을 수 있는 기회가 제한적이기 때문에 많은 개인과 소규모 사업자들이 운전자금, 교육비, 의료비 등의 용도로 금 대출 대출을 계속 이용하고 있습니다. 또한, 경제 활성화와 더불어 모바일을 활용한 새로운 금 대출 서비스, eKYC(전자신원확인), AI를 통한 금 평가 기술 등의 기술 혁신으로 대출 프로세스가 디지털화되어 대출자 측에서도 리스크 관리와 채무자 파악이 용이해졌습니다. 또한, 핀테크 기업들도 이 시장에 진출하여 기존 대부업체의 운영을 현대화하면서 소액대출, 단기적이고 유연한 분할상환(EMI) 조건, 금을 디지털로 담보로 제공할 수 있는 구조 등을 제공함으로써 금 대출 시장의 진화에 기여하고 있습니다.
세계의 금 대출(Gold Loan) 시장을 조사했으며, 시장 정의와 개요, 시장 규모 동향과 예측, 각종 부문별 상세 분석, 사례 분석, 시장 성장 촉진요인 분석, 경쟁 구도, 주요 기업 개요 등의 정보를 정리하여 전해드립니다.
Global gold loan market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.02% in the forecast period 2025-2032, increasing from USD 133.87 billion in 2024 to USD 183.49 billion in 2032F, expanding rapidly in line with increasing demand for accessible, secure, and personalized lending options, especially in emerging economies. The trend is fueled by several factors, including the growing demand for short-term credit, financial inclusion initiatives, and an increasing shift from informal to formal lending sources. Gold loans provide a quick, collateralized credit option for individuals with limited recourse to credit scoring methods and are a valuable product for areas with large unbanked populations.
Gold market is experiencing a growth period across the global economy, particularly in emerging economies that view gold as a household asset. This secured lending service is attractive as there is greater ease of access and speed to complete a loan, with little paperwork involved, creating a lower barrier for banks to engage unbanked and underbanked customers. Additionally, the increased cost of living and limited access to affordable credit are ensuring that individuals and small businesses continue to borrow for working capital, education, medical emergencies, and more, through gold loans. The economic excitement and advancements in technology using a mobile new gold lending service, combined with eKYC and AI gold appraisal technology, have allowed the borrowing process to be digitized while allowing lenders to keep tabs and improve their risk. Fintech companies are also entering the gold loan market through further modernizing how traditional lenders operate, offering microloans, shorter and more flexible EMI terms, and the ability to pledge in a similar digital way regarding gold.
In June 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implemented a regulation about Loan-to-Value (LTV) pricing on gold loans for loans below USD 2,900 at a Loan-to-Value (LTV) of 85%. This regulation provides access for more low-income borrowers and incentives for formal lenders to provide gold collateralized credit to a wider group of consumers.
Regulatory Push for Responsible Lending Drives the Global Gold Loan Market Demand
Due to ongoing concerns about predatory lending practices in the informal lending market, increased regulatory scrutiny of the gold loan sector by governments and central banks is promoting financial inclusion by safeguarding borrowers. Measures such as capped interest rates, transparent loan terms, and structured digital lending processes are formalizing the sector, shifting it toward a regulated market while curbing informal lending practices. The regulated segment of the gold loan sector has openly sought to invest in artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies to show increasing transparency and reduce fraud distress, where needed is essential in tracking assets. Digital KYC, valuation algorithm, and automated approvals are emerging as practical product features that enhance the speed and safety of disbursing loans.
Rising Demand for Short-term Liquidity Drives Growth of the Gold Loan Market
One of the most important factors driving the gold loan market is the growing need for short-term liquidity amongst informal sector workers, small business owners, and rural households. In many emerging markets, people do not have sufficient credit history to access formal credit in the form of personal loans or credit cards. However, the practice of holding gold in households as a store of wealth is widespread, and gold is often the only physical asset available to pledge. Because of this, gold loans are the most suitable financial choice to fulfill immediate needs, especially for working capital, medical emergencies, or educational expenditures.
Gold loans differ from unsecured loans in that they require little to no documentation, fast disbursal, and allow for flexibility in the repayment process. Given the ongoing inflation and uncertain economic environment, demand will continue to grow. The speed of processing, the cheapest interest rates found in collateralized loans, and low risk for lenders make gold loans a preferred lending tool in developing areas where financial inclusion remains ongoing.
Non-Banking Financial Institutions Dominant the Gold Loan Market Share
Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFCs), as a provider type, account for most of the global gold loan market share by means of deep reach, customer-centric services, and operational flexibility. NBFCs are differently structured compared to traditional banks, which tend to focus their customer segment on high-value paid customers or implement a lengthy credit vetting process. NBFCs are geared to support low to middle-income borrowers who may also not have formal documentation or credit history. They have streamlined internal processes and appraise and make decisions on collateral quickly. This helps to address immediate liquidity issues, particularly for loan borrowers in semi-urban and rural locations. Many NBFCs have larger branch networks in India, even if most of the borrowers are in urban areas, and they also have staff based at the branch who understand the customer demography and credit behavior in these locations to help develop trust or a relationship to support future borrowing. Additionally, as digital transformation occurs, NBFCs have made significant investments in AI underwriting, app-based interfaces, and eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) solutions to enhance operational efficiencies and increase their share of the market for gold-backed lending. NBFCs are leading the gold-backed lending opportunity.
In April 2025, Poonawalla Fincorp announced its entry into the gold loan space with an ambitious plan to open over 400 branches across India. This expansion strategy, backed by a regulatory-friendly environment, reflects how NBFCs are leveraging formal structures and compliance to gain a stronger foothold in the booming gold-backed lending ecosystem.
Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Gold Loan Market Size
The Asia-Pacific commands the largest share of the global gold loan market due to cultural affinity toward gold ownership and propensity for it to be used as a financial asset. In markets such as India, gold loan penetration is increasing in both urban and rural markets with support from traditional NBFCs and new fintech lenders. Financial institutions across the region are merging traditional customer relationships with integrated technology, such as AI-based gold valuation and instantaneous disbursements, to scale rapidly. Rapid mobile penetration and UPI adoption are transforming how consumers utilize short-term liquidity options, all while regulation continues to reinforce the structures necessary to transition consumer access to liquidity from informal lenders to a more formalized lending structure.
An illustrative example of this regional dominance was Muthoot Finance's partnership with Google Pay in October 2024. The partnership allows customers to apply for and access their gold loans through the App, which exemplifies the journeys that are only available from the region, with its focus on integrating digital-first lending models with historically deep-rooted financial habits.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The competitive environment has issues being segmented between NBFCs and banks, and tech-enabled mortgages. The older business models and incumbent leaders have built substantial branch networks and customer trust from decades of operating as gold loan companies and now seem to be modernizing earlier than expected via digitization, CRM systems, A.I.-based underwriting tools for serving millennials, and serving tech-savvy rural customers lacking credit information. Meanwhile, there are fintech gold loan companies that are raising the competitive bar with alternate offer structures, such as online pledging, dynamic underwriting, and paperless proof of identity, and various mischief on the AML compliance side. Global investors are re-industrializing accessible gold-lending businesses in India and Asia, as gold lending is a product that has numerous ways of working, which is proving resilient as well as highly profitable.
Most relevant to describing the investment potential of this industry, Bain Capital announced a strategic investment in 2024 to acquire joint control of Manappuram Finance Limited. As global investors expand their footprint in the gold lending sector, this is a strong sign that there is investment interest. This market event represents how established players such as Manappuram Finance are sharing their business with private equity to grow volumes, digitization prospects, and established thinking with their traditional values and market experience in a rapidly changing competitive environment.
All segments will be provided for all regions and countries covered
Companies mentioned above DO NOT hold any order as per market share and can be changed as per information available during research work.