Reserves excluding gold in South Korea
South Korea: Reserves excluding gold was 308.07 billion SDR in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
308.07 billion SDR
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
9th
of 188 countries
All-time high
326.64 billion SDR
in 2021
All-time low
25.30 million SDR
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Reserves excluding gold in South Korea, 1950–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in SDR.
Analysis
In 2025, reserves excluding gold in South Korea stood at 308.07 billion SDR.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserves excluding gold in South Korea peaked at 326.64 billion SDR in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25.30 million SDR, in 1950.
South Korea ranks 9th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserves excluding gold 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 | 133.58 million SDR | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 142.99 million SDR | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 241.81 million SDR | +69.1% |
| 1967 | 353.22 million SDR | +46.1% |
| 1968 | 387.72 million SDR | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 549.52 million SDR | +41.7% |
| 1970 | 606.31 million SDR | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 399.29 million SDR | -34.1% |
| 1972 | 481.71 million SDR | +20.6% |
| 1973 | 733.47 million SDR | +52.3% |
| 1974 | 226.40 million SDR | -69.1% |
| 1975 | 667.42 million SDR | +194.8% |
| 1976 | 1.70 billion SDR | +154.1% |
| 1977 | 2.44 billion SDR | +44.1% |
| 1978 | 2.12 billion SDR | -13.1% |
| 1979 | 2.25 billion SDR | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 2.29 billion SDR | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 2.30 billion SDR | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 2.54 billion SDR | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 2.24 billion SDR | -11.9% |
| 1984 | 2.81 billion SDR | +25.3% |
| 1985 | 2.61 billion SDR | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 2.71 billion SDR | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 2.53 billion SDR | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 9.17 billion SDR | +263.2% |
| 1989 | 11.58 billion SDR | +26.2% |
| 1990 | 10.40 billion SDR | -10.2% |
| 1991 | 9.58 billion SDR | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 12.45 billion SDR | +30.0% |
| 1993 | 14.73 billion SDR | +18.3% |
| 1994 | 17.56 billion SDR | +19.3% |
| 1995 | 21.98 billion SDR | +25.2% |
| 1996 | 23.67 billion SDR | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 15.10 billion SDR | -36.2% |
| 1998 | 36.91 billion SDR | +144.5% |
| 1999 | 53.91 billion SDR | +46.0% |
| 2000 | 73.78 billion SDR | +36.9% |
| 2001 | 81.76 billion SDR | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 89.26 billion SDR | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 104.50 billion SDR | +17.1% |
| 2004 | 128.14 billion SDR | +22.6% |
| 2005 | 147.15 billion SDR | +14.8% |
| 2006 | 158.79 billion SDR | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 165.89 billion SDR | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 130.59 billion SDR | -21.3% |
| 2009 | 172.19 billion SDR | +31.9% |
| 2010 | 189.28 billion SDR | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 198.18 billion SDR | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 210.29 billion SDR | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 221.85 billion SDR | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 247.64 billion SDR | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 262.06 billion SDR | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 272.48 billion SDR | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 269.96 billion SDR | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 286.73 billion SDR | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 291.94 billion SDR | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 303.49 billion SDR | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 326.64 billion SDR | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 313.55 billion SDR | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 308.57 billion SDR | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 313.97 billion SDR | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 308.07 billion SDR | -1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 308.07 billion SDR is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.86 billion SDR, 17.2× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 308.07 billion SDR is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.56 billion SDR, 15.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserves excluding gold 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 | +263.2% | 2.53 billion SDR | 9.17 billion SDR |
| 1975 | +194.8% | 226.40 million SDR | 667.42 million SDR |
| 1976 | +154.1% | 667.42 million SDR | 1.70 billion SDR |
| 1998 | +144.5% | 15.10 billion SDR | 36.91 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 | 246.56 million SDR | 129.60 million SDR | 549.52 million SDR | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.16 billion SDR | 226.40 million SDR | 2.44 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.08 billion SDR | 2.24 billion SDR | 11.58 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.63 billion SDR | 9.58 billion SDR | 53.91 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2000s | 125.20 billion SDR | 73.78 billion SDR | 172.19 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2010s | 245.04 billion SDR | 189.28 billion SDR | 291.94 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2020s | 312.38 billion SDR | 303.49 billion SDR | 326.64 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 in South Korea?
- Reserves excluding gold in South Korea was 308.07 billion SDR in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserves excluding gold recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 326.64 billion SDR in 2021.
- What is the lowest reserves excluding gold recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.30 million SDR in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for reserves excluding gold?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserves excluding gold rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. 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 (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.