Of all the countries in the world, China had, by far, the largest international reserves in 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.

Key information about United States Foreign Exchange Reserves

• United States Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 35.2 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 34.9 USD bn in the previous month
• US Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Mar 1961 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 54.9 USD bn in Aug 2011 and a record low of 2.0 USD mn in Jul 1975

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service provides monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD.


Further information about United States Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, US Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.1 Months of Import in Jan 2025.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 21,561.4 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025.
• US Domestic Credit reached 30,648.3 USD bn in Mar 2024, representing an drop of 0.3 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.7 % in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.5 % in the previous quarter.
• Household Debt of US reached 61.7 % in Dec 2024, accounting for 61.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

The average for 2023 based on 161 countries was 91.52 billion U.S. dollars. The highest value was in China: 3449.54 billion U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Sao Tome and Principe: 0.05 billion U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This dataset provides values for FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

This dataset provides values for FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

This dataset provides values for FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Key information about European Union Foreign Exchange Reserves

• European Union Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 297.5 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 298.7 USD bn in the previous month
• EU Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Dec 1999 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 319.1 USD bn in Jul 2021 and a record low of 165.4 USD bn in Mar 2006

CEIC converts monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves into USD. European Central Bank provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Further information about European Union Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, EU Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 1.3 Months of Import in Nov 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 16,118.6 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024.
• EU Domestic Credit reached 25,343.8 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an increased of 0.7 % YoY.
• Household Debt of EU reached 44.4 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 44.4 % 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.

The assets that a country’s central bank or monetary authority holds to support its liabilities and shape monetary policy are known as foreign exchange reserves. It is a vital component of a nation’s economic stability, serving as a buffer against external shocks and currency fluctuations. These reserves are primarily used to ensure the stability of the national currency and to facilitate international trade. Total foreign exchange reserves are calculated by summing up SDRs, gold reserves, foreign currency assets, and the Reserve Tranche Position. This total represents the full extent of a country’s external financial assets and is a key indicator of its economic health. Monitoring changes in total reserves helps policymakers assess the adequacy of reserves to meet potential external liabilities.

In 2021, Libya was the African country with the largest foreign exchange reserves, amounting to around ** billion U.S. dollars. South Africa and Algeria followed, with international reserves adding up to approximately ** billion and ** billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

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.

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.

Key information about Germany Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Germany Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 36.7 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 35.2 USD bn in the previous month
• Germany Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 114.6 USD bn in Sep 1992 and a record low of 1.3 USD bn in Apr 1959

CEIC converts monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves into USD. Deutsche Bundesbank provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Germany joined the Euro Area on January 1st, 1999 with fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 DEM. Foreign Exchange Reserves prior to December 1998 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Further information about Germany Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Germany Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.3 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 4,046.9 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024.
• Germany Domestic Credit reached 6,397.0 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an drop of 2.2 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.2 % in Dec 2022, compared with the ratio of 1.1 % in the previous year.
• Household Debt of Germany reached 50.3 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 50.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Key information about Switzerland Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP

• Switzerland Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP was reported at 86.276 % in Dec 2024
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 91.332 % for Sep 2024
• Switzerland Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 78.924 % from Mar 2006 to Dec 2024, with 76 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 136.320 % in Dec 2020 and a record low of 7.728 % in Sep 2008
• Switzerland Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of Nominal GDP: Quarterly

CEIC calculates quarterly Foreign Exchange Reserves as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves and quarterly Nominal GDP. Swiss National Bank provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD. State Secretariat for Economic Affairs provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Key information about France Foreign Exchange Reserves

• France Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 31.8 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 29.5 USD bn in the previous month
• France Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Feb 2004 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 55.5 USD bn in Mar 2020 and a record low of 21.6 USD bn in Feb 2009

CEIC calculates monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves as Foreign Exchange Reserves less Other Claims and converts it into USD. The Banque de France provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. France joined the Euro Area on January 1st, 1999 with fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 6.55957 FRF.


Further information about France Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, France Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.5 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 3,161.0 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024.
• France Domestic Credit reached 5,284.9 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an increased of 1.7 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 2.4 % in Dec 2021, compared with the ratio of 2.7 % in the previous year.
• Household Debt of France reached 74.2 % in Dec 2023, accounting for 74.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Georgia increased to 5019734 USD Thousand in July from 4688444.90 USD Thousand in June of 2025. This dataset provides - Georgia Foreign Exchange Reserves- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2021, Zimbabwe had the largest growth in foreign exchange reserves among African countries, with a ******* percent growth compared to the previous year. South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea followed, recording a growth rate of around *** percent and *** percent, respectively.

In absolute terms, Libya was the country with the largest international reserves in Africa, reaching around ** billion U.S. dollars in 2021.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Russia increased to 680379 USD Million in May from 680271 USD Million in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Russia 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.

As of June 6, 2025, Russia had ***** billion U.S. dollars in international reserves. To compare, at the beginning of 2022, prior to the war in Ukraine, the value of foreign exchange reserves in the country was measured at ***** billion U.S. dollars.