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 dollar remained a popular reserve currency across multiple regions in the world in 2023, most notably Latin America. A survey held over the course of that year revealed that the USD made up roughly ** percent of reserves in LATAM central banks. This was different in Europe - including non-euro central banks - where nearly **** of reserve assets were assets. The source adds that the renminbi or Chinese yuan were barely held in any region.

Brazil International Reserves: % Share: US Dollar data was reported at 82.300 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 83.500 % for 2016. Brazil International Reserves: % Share: US Dollar data is updated yearly, averaging 81.800 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.000 % in 2007 and a record low of 54.600 % in 2004. Brazil International Reserves: % Share: US Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Monetary – Table BR.KAA018: International Reserves: by Currencies.

Key information about Brazil Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP

• Brazil Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP was reported at 13.549 % in Dec 2024
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.155 % for Sep 2024
• Brazil Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 14.336 % from Dec 2000 to Dec 2024, with 97 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 23.226 % in Dec 2020 and a record low of 4.946 % in Dec 2000
• Brazil 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 monthly Nominal GDP. The Central Bank of Brazil provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD and Nominal GDP in USD.

Key information about United States Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP

• United States Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP was reported at 0.119 % in Dec 2024
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.131 % for Sep 2024
• US Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.271 % from Mar 1961 to Dec 2024, with 256 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 0.875 % in Dec 1990 and a record low of 0.000 % in Dec 1974
• US 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. Federal Reserve Board provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD.

Monetary gold occupied a ****-percent share in total foreign currency and gold reserves of the Russian Central Bank as of December 31, 2022. To compare, at the beginning of the previous year, the figure stood at **** percent of international reserves.

The composition of official foreign exchange reserves grew by ***** percent between 2022 and 2023, after a sizable decline in 2022. Forex reserves refer to foreign-currency deposits held by monetary authorities and governments. Most of these reserves are made up of the U.S. dollar, although the euro and the Japanese yen did gain more prominence recently. In 2023, global currency reserves amounted to over **** trillion U.S. dollars.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Level (ROWCURQ027S) from Q4 1945 to Q2 2025 about IMA, currency, and assets.

Key information about Saudi Arabia Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Saudi Arabia Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 410.2 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 413.0 USD bn in the previous month
• Saudi Arabia Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2001 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 731.2 USD bn in Aug 2014 and a record low of 37.4 USD bn in Sep 2002

CEIC calculates monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves as the sum of Foreign Currency Reserves and Deposits Abroad, and Investment in Foreign Securities and converts it into USD. Saudi Central Bank provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in local currency. Saudi Central Bank period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Further information about Saudi Arabia Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Saudi Arabia Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 21.4 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 710.6 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.3 % in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.4 % in the previous quarter.
• Household Debt of Saudi Arabia reached 12.1 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 12.1 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Brazil International Reserves: % Share: Great Britain Pound data was reported at 2.800 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.600 % for 2016. Brazil International Reserves: % Share: Great Britain Pound data is updated yearly, averaging 2.700 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.700 % in 2009 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2008. Brazil International Reserves: % Share: Great Britain Pound data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Monetary – Table BR.KAA018: International Reserves: by Currencies.

The euro and U.S. dollar made up more than ***** of 10 SWIFT payments worldwide in 2025, outperforming many other currencies. This is according to a monthly report meant to track the market share of China's yuan renminbi within the international bank transfer system SWIFT. Although China holds the largest forex reserves in the world, the yuan ranked as the ******-used currency in international payments. The figures concern customer-initiated and institutional payments and exclude trade. Discussions on the potential weakening role of the U.S. dollar especially touch world trade and forex. For example, the share of the USD in forex reserves declined visibly against the euro and Japanese yen in 2024. What sparked this de-dollarization trend, and will it continue? Trade sanctions and de-dollarization De-dollarization in 2024 is mentioned mostly alongside trade and the BRICS countries - an informal name given to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The combined GDP of BRICS is about ** percent of the world's economy. After the start of the Ukraine war and Russia received economic sanctions, the BRICS slowly evolved into a trading bloc. The group increasingly wanted its own currency to settle payments within the trade bloc, to avoid using the U.S. dollar. In August 2024, BRICS will gather in South Africa to discuss the creation of such a new joint currency. Additionally, ** countries - including Argentina, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Yemen - expressed interest in joining the BRICS group. CBDC, or projects into a digital payment settlement A factor of future uncertainty for the U.S. dollar is how central bank digital currencies (CBDC) develop in emerging countries. Several projects exist between individual countries that specifically target cross-border interbank payments. A cooperation between Thailand and Hong Kong, Inthanon-Lionrock, ranks as the most advanced of these projects. CBDC does not require the U.S. dollar to function. Tangible such as commodities or gold can back them. The value of transactions processed with CBDC is to grow by ******* percent between 2024 and 2030.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Pakistan increased to 19659.50 USD Million in August from 18976.40 USD Million in July of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Pakistan Foreign Exchange Reserves - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2024, gold was the world’s second largest reserve asset, behind only the U.S. dollar. By the fourth quarter of that year, gold accounted for 19.6 percent of global reserve assets, the highest share since 2012. The U.S. dollar remained the dominant reserve asset at 46.5 percent, while the euro stood at 15.9 percent.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in India decreased to 702570 USD Million in September 19 from 702970 USD Million in the previous week. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - India Foreign Exchange Reserves - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

International Reserves: % Share: Canadian Dollar data was reported at 4.500 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.400 % for 2016. International Reserves: % Share: Canadian Dollar data is updated yearly, averaging 4.300 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.100 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2008. International Reserves: % Share: Canadian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Monetary – Table BR.KAA018: International Reserves: by Currencies.

Graph and download economic data for Percentage of Foreign Banks Among Total Banks for Brazil (DDOI13BRA156NWDB) from 1995 to 2013 about Brazil, foreign, percent, banks, and depository institutions.

Global Payments reported $22.59B in Equity Capital and Reserves for its fiscal quarter ending in June of 2025. Data for Global Payments | GPN - Equity Capital And Reserves including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last September in 2025.

Key information about Mexico Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP

• Mexico Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP was reported at 10.951 % in Dec 2024
• This records an increase from the previous number of 10.680 % for Sep 2024
• Mexico Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 10.601 % from Mar 2000 to Dec 2024, with 100 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 16.425 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 4.612 % in Jun 2000
• Mexico 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. The Bank of Mexico provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in USD. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography provides Nominal GDP in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

SRG Global reported AUD374.93M in Equity Capital and Reserves for its fiscal semester ending in December of 2024. Data for SRG Global | SRG - Equity Capital And Reserves including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last October in 2025.