Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea
South Korea: Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange was 294.26 billion SDR in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
294.26 billion SDR
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
9th
of 188 countries
All-time high
313.18 billion SDR
in 2021
All-time low
25.30 million SDR
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea, 1950–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in SDR.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea is 294.26 billion SDR, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea peaked at 313.18 billion SDR in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25.30 million SDR, in 1950.
That places South Korea 9th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea, year by year
| Year | SDR | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 25.30 million SDR | — |
| 1951 | 36.80 million SDR | +45.5% |
| 1952 | 81.40 million SDR | +121.2% |
| 1953 | 107.30 million SDR | +31.8% |
| 1954 | 105.50 million SDR | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 94.80 million SDR | -10.1% |
| 1956 | 97.20 million SDR | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 114.10 million SDR | +17.4% |
| 1958 | 144.90 million SDR | +27.0% |
| 1959 | 145.50 million SDR | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 155.20 million SDR | +6.7% |
| 1961 | 205.20 million SDR | +32.2% |
| 1962 | 166.80 million SDR | -18.7% |
| 1963 | 129.60 million SDR | -22.3% |
| 1964 | 128.90 million SDR | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 138.30 million SDR | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 235.80 million SDR | +70.5% |
| 1967 | 347.20 million SDR | +47.2% |
| 1968 | 387.70 million SDR | +11.7% |
| 1969 | 549.50 million SDR | +41.7% |
| 1970 | 583.50 million SDR | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 369.16 million SDR | -36.7% |
| 1972 | 443.12 million SDR | +20.0% |
| 1973 | 687.37 million SDR | +55.1% |
| 1974 | 225.02 million SDR | -67.3% |
| 1975 | 664.07 million SDR | +195.1% |
| 1976 | 1.69 billion SDR | +154.3% |
| 1977 | 2.43 billion SDR | +44.0% |
| 1978 | 2.10 billion SDR | -13.7% |
| 1979 | 2.21 billion SDR | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 2.28 billion SDR | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 2.25 billion SDR | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 2.49 billion SDR | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 2.13 billion SDR | -14.4% |
| 1984 | 2.78 billion SDR | +30.5% |
| 1985 | 2.58 billion SDR | -7.3% |
| 1986 | 2.70 billion SDR | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 2.51 billion SDR | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 9.17 billion SDR | +264.8% |
| 1989 | 11.40 billion SDR | +24.3% |
| 1990 | 10.16 billion SDR | -10.8% |
| 1991 | 9.30 billion SDR | -8.5% |
| 1992 | 12.10 billion SDR | +30.1% |
| 1993 | 14.35 billion SDR | +18.5% |
| 1994 | 17.15 billion SDR | +19.5% |
| 1995 | 21.48 billion SDR | +25.3% |
| 1996 | 23.11 billion SDR | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 14.61 billion SDR | -36.8% |
| 1998 | 36.90 billion SDR | +152.6% |
| 1999 | 53.70 billion SDR | +45.5% |
| 2000 | 73.57 billion SDR | +37.0% |
| 2001 | 81.55 billion SDR | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 88.86 billion SDR | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 103.98 billion SDR | +17.0% |
| 2004 | 127.61 billion SDR | +22.7% |
| 2005 | 146.91 billion SDR | +15.1% |
| 2006 | 158.46 billion SDR | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 165.65 billion SDR | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 130.16 billion SDR | -21.4% |
| 2009 | 169.17 billion SDR | +30.0% |
| 2010 | 186.31 billion SDR | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 194.25 billion SDR | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 206.19 billion SDR | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 217.95 billion SDR | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 244.06 billion SDR | +12.0% |
| 2015 | 258.72 billion SDR | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 269.06 billion SDR | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 266.46 billion SDR | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 282.81 billion SDR | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 287.73 billion SDR | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 298.64 billion SDR | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 313.18 billion SDR | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 299.84 billion SDR | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 294.89 billion SDR | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 300.50 billion SDR | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 294.26 billion SDR | -2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 294.26 billion SDR is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.71 billion SDR, 23.1× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 294.26 billion SDR is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 18.09 billion SDR, 16.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +264.8% | 2.51 billion SDR | 9.17 billion SDR |
| 1975 | +195.1% | 225.02 million SDR | 664.07 million SDR |
| 1976 | +154.3% | 664.07 million SDR | 1.69 billion SDR |
| 1998 | +152.6% | 14.61 billion SDR | 36.90 billion SDR |
| 1952 | +121.2% | 36.80 million SDR | 81.40 million SDR |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 95.28 million SDR | 25.30 million SDR | 145.50 million SDR | 10 |
| 1960s | 244.42 million SDR | 128.90 million SDR | 549.50 million SDR | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.14 billion SDR | 225.02 million SDR | 2.43 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.03 billion SDR | 2.13 billion SDR | 11.40 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.29 billion SDR | 9.30 billion SDR | 53.70 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2000s | 124.59 billion SDR | 73.57 billion SDR | 169.17 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2010s | 241.35 billion SDR | 186.31 billion SDR | 287.73 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2020s | 300.22 billion SDR | 294.26 billion SDR | 313.18 billion SDR | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More financial sector data for South Korea
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 58.67 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 42.84 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 58.67 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea?
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange in South Korea was 294.26 billion SDR in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 313.18 billion SDR in 2021.
- What is the lowest reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.30 million SDR in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International liquidity consists of all the resources that are available to the monetary authorities of countries for the purpose of meeting balance of payments financing needs.