The U.S. dollar was the most common currency in foreign exchange reserves in 2023, 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.

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.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in China increased to 3317000 USD Million in June from 3285000 USD Million in May of 2025. This dataset provides - China Foreign Exchange Reserves - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Portugal Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Portugal Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 4.6 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 6.0 USD bn in the previous month
• Portugal Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Dec 1999 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 537.3 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 337.4 USD mn in Jan 2012

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, and converts it into USD. Banco de Portugal provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Portugal joined the Euro Area on January 1st, 1999 with fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 200.482 PTE.


Further information about Portugal Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Portugal Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.7 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 304.1 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.2 % in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.3 % in the previous month.
• Household Debt of Portugal reached 65.9 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 65.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Bangladesh decreased to 25798.20 USD Million in May from 27429.70 USD Million in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Reserves - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Egypt increased to 48700 USD Million in June from 48530 USD Million in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Egypt Foreign Exchange Reserves - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about Netherlands Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Netherlands Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 6.9 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with 7.1 USD bn in the previous month
• Netherlands Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Sep 1999 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.7 USD bn in Dec 2013 and a record low of 3.8 USD bn in Sep 2019

CEIC calculates Foreign Exchange Reserves as the sum of Foreign Currency Reserves and Other Reserve Assets, which include other financial instruments denominated in foreign currency and converts it into USD. De Nederlandsche Bank N.V. provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Netherlands joined the Euro Area on January 1st, 1999 with fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 2.20371 NLG.


Further information about Netherlands Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Netherlands Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.1 Months of Import in Nov 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 1,170.2 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025.
• Netherlands Domestic Credit reached 1,738.0 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an drop of 3.4 % 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 Netherlands reached 97.4 % in Sep 2024, accounting for 97.4 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in Sri Lanka decreased to 6284 USD Million in May from 6327 USD Million in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka Foreign Exchange Reserves - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

In financial year 2024, the value of foreign exchange reserves in India stood at around *** billion U.S. dollars. This was a significant increase from the previous year. In fiscal year 2023, the value of foreign exchange reserve stood at around *** billion dollars.

Foreign Exchange Reserves in India decreased to 699740 USD Million in July 4 from 702780 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.

Key information about Spain Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Spain Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 62.2 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 61.4 USD bn in the previous month
• Spain Foreign Exchange Reserves: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1987 to Feb 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 71.4 USD bn in Aug 1992 and a record low of 8.3 USD bn in Oct 2005

CEIC converts monthly Foreign Exchange Reserves into USD. Banco de España provides Foreign Exchange Reserves in EUR. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Spain joined the Euro Area on January 1st, 1999 with fixed conversion rate of 1 EUR = 166.386 ESP.


Further information about Spain Foreign Exchange Reserves

• In the latest reports, Spain Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 1.6 Months of Import in Nov 2024.
• Its Money Supply M2 increased 1,629.8 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025.
• Spain Domestic Credit reached 2,211.3 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 0.2 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 3.3 % in Dec 2024, compared with the ratio of 3.4 % in the previous month.
• Household Debt of Spain reached 48.9 % in Jun 2024, accounting for 48.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP.

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.

The total reserves in Bangladesh decreased to ***** billion U.S. dollars compared to the previous year. This marks the lowest total reserves during the observed period. Total reserves comprise holdings of monetary gold, special drawing rights, reserves of International Monetary Fund (IMF) members held by the IMF, and holdings of foreign exchange under the control of monetary authorities. The gold component of these reserves is valued at year-end (December 31) London prices. Data are in current U.S. dollars.Find more statistics on other topics about Bangladesh with key insights such as charges for the use of intellectual property, annual growth of gross capital formation, and gross savings.