Foreign Exchange Reserves in China increased to 3322000 USD Million in August from 3292000 USD Million in July of 2025. This dataset provides - China Foreign Exchange Reserves - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the foreign exchange reserves in China amounted to over *** trillion U.S. dollars. Over the past years, the forex reserved had remained relatively stable. However, in the first half of 2022, the country’s dollar reserves fluctuated as a response to domestic and international crises. On the one hand, the outbreak of the Omicron variant affected the Chinese economy, on the other hand, the war in Ukraine brought uncertainty to global markets.

The world’s largest forex holder For over 30 years, China has been the global factory and by having a trade surplus, was able to grow its reserve assets to be the largest in the world. The most prominent currency on the People’s Bank of China’s balance sheet is the U.S. dollar. One of its main applications is the stabilization of the U.S. dollar to the yuan exchange rate. The yuan as a reserve currency Currency can be a powerful tool that the Chinese government does not want to miss. Since the U.S. dollar is the global reserve currency, the United States has strong leverage over other countries. Therefore, to build a counterweight to American influence, Beijing works on establishing the Yuan as a second global reserve currency. So far, China has set up a reserve pool with **** other nations and opened offshore clearing houses around the world.

Key information about China Foreign Exchange Reserves

• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,227.2 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 3,209.0 USD bn in the previous month
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1989 to Feb 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 3,993.2 USD bn in Jun 2014 and a record low of 3.7 USD bn in Jan 1989

The People's Bank of China provides monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD.


Further information about China Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, China Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 44,045.8 USD bn YoY in Sep 2024.
• China Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.5 % in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.6 % in the previous quarter.
• Household Debt of China reached 63.3 % in Mar 2023, accounting for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

The U.S. dollar was the most common currency in foreign exchange reserves in 2025, comprising more than three times the amount of the euro in global reserves that year. This total peaked in 2015, partly due to the strength of the dollar during the Eurozone crisis. The share of the U.S. dollar has lost since to the Japanese yen and euro, as well as other currencies. Why do foreign exchange reserves matter? When countries with different currencies export goods, they must agree on a currency for payment. As a result, countries hold currency reserves worth trillions of U.S. dollars. After World War II, the U.S. dollar itself became the international currency in the Bretton Woods Agreement and is thus the most common currency for international payments. The United States Treasury is also seen by most as risk-free, giving the country a low-risk premium. For this reason, countries hold U.S. dollars in reserve because the currency holds value relatively well eventually. China and currency reserves Since 2016, the International Monetary Fund has included the Chinese renminbi (yuan) as part of the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket. This decision recognized the influence of the renminbi as a reserve currency, particularly in several Asian countries. China also holds significant foreign exchange reserves itself, funded by its large positive trade balance.

Key information about Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import

• Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 9.3 Months of Import in May 2023, compared with the ratio of 8.9 in the previous month
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import data is updated monthly, available from Apr 2000 to May 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 12.5 in Feb 2020 and a record low of 4.1 in Oct 2008

CEIC calculates Foreign Exchange Reserves as Months of Import from monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves and monthly Imports. Foreign Exchange Reserves are calculated as the sum of Foreign Currency Reserves and Other Reserve Assets, which include other financial instruments denominated in foreign currency. Hong Kong Monetary Authority provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD. Census and Statistics Department provides Imports in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Further information about Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import

• In the latest reports, Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 417.2 USD bn in Jun 2023
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 1.5 % YoY in Jun 2023
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Domestic Credit reached 875.9 USD bn in Sep 2018, representing an increased of 9.3 % YoY
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.5 % in Mar 2023, compared with the ratio of 1.4 % in the previous quarter
• Household Debt of Hong Kong SAR (China) reached 352.3 USD bn in Jun 2023, accounting for 96.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP

As of April 2025, China's reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amounted to about ***** billion U.S. dollars, increasing from around **** billion U.S. dollars in March 2024.

This study identifies 37 central banks that added China’s renminbi (RMB) to their reserve portfolio since 2010. Why do some states diversify into new reserve currencies at an early stage while most continue to take a wait-and-see approach? We argue that state preferences regarding international order influence decisions to invest in RMB. While some states support the liberal, US-led status quo, others prefer an emerging Chinese alternative order. We contend that as state preferences for international order move away from the US model (and toward China), the likelihood of diversifying reserves into RMB should increase. Thus, the decision to invest in RMB is not simply an economic choice. It is also a political act that signals and symbolizes a state’s preferences for a diminution of American global influence and support for a revised order. Employing new United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ideal points data, we find that states with larger (smaller) ideal point distance with the United States (China) are more likely to adopt RMB as a reserve currency. Furthermore, political consideration—rather than economic concerns about transaction needs, optimal portfolio considerations, or instrumental calculations—best explains emergent demand for the RMB as a reserve currency.

Key information about China Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import

• China Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 15.2 in the previous month
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2000 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 37.2 in Jan 2009 and a record low of 7.6 in Nov 2000

CEIC calculates Foreign Exchange Reserves as Months of Import from monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves and monthly Imports. The People's Bank of China provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD. The General Administration of Customs provides Imports in USD.


Further information about China Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import

• In the latest reports, China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,202.4 USD bn in Dec 2024
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 7.3 % YoY in Dec 2024
• China Domestic Credit reached 48,395.6 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 8.4 % YoY
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.6 % in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.6 % in the previous quarter
• Household Debt of China reached 11,347.6 USD bn in Dec 2024, accounting for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP

China: Foreign exchange reserves including gold, billion USD: The latest value from 2024 is 3456.02 billion U.S. dollars, an increase from 3449.54 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 107.40 billion U.S. dollars, based on data from 132 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1977 to 2024 is 1273.2 billion U.S. dollars. The minimum value, 4.45 billion U.S. dollars, was reached in 1978 while the maximum of 3900.04 billion U.S. dollars was recorded in 2014.

Peru Reserves Currency Composition: Chinese Yuan data was reported at 1.499 USD bn in Jan 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.494 USD bn for Dec 2019. Peru Reserves Currency Composition: Chinese Yuan data is updated monthly, averaging 1.266 USD bn from Dec 2016 (Median) to Jan 2020, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.516 USD bn in Feb 2019 and a record low of 320.000 USD mn in Dec 2016. Peru Reserves Currency Composition: Chinese Yuan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Reserve Bank of Peru. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.KA002: Official Reserve Assets and Foreign Currency Liquidity. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

China: Percent of world foreign exchange reserves: The latest value from 2023 is 23.412 percent, a decline from 23.525 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.621 percent, based on data from 161 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1977 to 2023 is 13.066 percent. The minimum value, 0.815 percent, was reached in 1978 while the maximum of 30.985 percent was recorded in 2014.

Foreign exchange reserves, billion currency units in China, June, 2025 The most recent value is 3627.08 billion U.S. Dollar as of June 2025, an increase compared to the previous value of 3593.46 billion U.S. Dollar. Historically, the average for China from November 1980 to June 2025 is 1366.41 billion U.S. Dollar. The minimum of 2.93 billion U.S. Dollar was recorded in March 1981, while the maximum of 4020.65 billion U.S. Dollar was reached in June 2014. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

It refers to the foreign currency assets (including foreign currency cash, foreign currency deposits, and securities denominated in foreign currency) held by the central bank for non-residents, which can be freely used and utilized as needed to alleviate international balance of payments deficits.

Graph and download economic data for Total Reserves excluding Gold for Taiwan Province of China (TRESEGTWM194N) from Dec 1950 to May 2025 about Taiwan, gold, reserves, and China.

As of 2024, the value of China's foreign exchange reserves amounted to almost ** trillion yuan. The country's monetary authority is the People's Bank of China.

Key information about Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 421.3 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 421.3 USD bn in the previous month
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Apr 2000 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 499.3 USD bn in Nov 2021 and a record low of 93.9 USD bn in Apr 2000

CEIC calculates monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves as the sum of Foreign Currency Reserves and Other Reserve assets, which include other financial instruments denominated in foreign currency. Hong Kong Monetary Authority provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD.


Further information about Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Hong Kong SAR (China) Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 9.3 Months of Import in May 2023.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 2,406.6 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025.
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Domestic Credit reached 1,011.8 USD bn in Oct 2024, representing an drop of 0.2 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 2.2 % in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 2.1 % in the previous quarter.
• Household Debt of Hong Kong SAR (China) reached 87.8 % in Dec 2024, accounting for 87.8 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Graph and download economic data for Chinese Yuan Renminbi to U.S. Dollar Spot Exchange Rate (AEXCHUS) from 1981 to 2024 about China, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.

Of all the countries in the world, China had, by far, the largest international reserves in July 2025, with **** trillion USD in reserves and foreign currency liquidity. Japan was the only other country with over a trillion U.S. dollars in reserves in early 2025, with a total of *** trillion U.S. dollars. Why do countries hold reserves? A simple explanation for China’s accumulation of foreign currency could be its consistently positive and substantial trade balance. When China exports goods and services, it accepts the foreign currency, usually U.S. dollars, and holds that currency in reserve. In addition to facilitating trade, most countries, including China, also hold foreign exchange reserves to ensure the stability of their currencies and facilitate other foreign transactions. Other significant reserves Even though most of the world left the gold standard in 1971, most countries still retain large gold reserves. The United States, followed by Germany and Italy, held the largest amount of gold reserves worldwide as of December 2018.

Graph and download economic data for Currency Conversions: US Dollar Exchange Rate: Average of Daily Rates: National Currency: USD for China (CCUSMA02CNQ618N) from Q1 1957 to Q2 2025 about China, exchange rate, currency, and rate.

This statistic presents the leading countries worldwide, by value of foreign currency reserves in 2020. In 2020, the foreign currency reserves held by China, including gold, were the largest and amounted to about *** trillion U.S. dollars. Second in rank was Japan with reserves worth about *** trillion U.S. dollars which was less than half of those of China.