Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in China
China: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 11.94 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Total reserves in months of imports in China, 1982–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
In 2025, total reserves in months of imports in China stood at 11.94.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and down 33.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in China peaked at 25.39 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.15, in 1993.
China ranks 13th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 10.53 | — |
| 1983 | 11.33 | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 9.41 | -16.9% |
| 1985 | 4.9 | -47.9% |
| 1986 | 5.17 | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 6.72 | +30.0% |
| 1988 | 5.52 | -17.9% |
| 1989 | 5.08 | -8.0% |
| 1990 | 8.5 | +67.2% |
| 1991 | 10.11 | +18.9% |
| 1992 | 3.77 | -62.7% |
| 1993 | 3.15 | -16.3% |
| 1994 | 5.86 | +85.7% |
| 1995 | 6.33 | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 7.71 | +21.8% |
| 1997 | 15.36 | +99.2% |
| 1998 | 15.32 | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 13.64 | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 10.94 | -19.8% |
| 2001 | 12.63 | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 15.3 | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 11.44 | -25.2% |
| 2004 | 12.9 | +12.8% |
| 2005 | 14.17 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 15.39 | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 18.1 | +17.6% |
| 2008 | 19.15 | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 25.39 | +32.6% |
| 2010 | 21.83 | -14.0% |
| 2011 | 19.13 | -12.4% |
| 2012 | 19.08 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 19.54 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 18.97 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 17.94 | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 16.72 | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 15.42 | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 13.14 | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 13.63 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 14.5 | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 11.48 | -20.8% |
| 2022 | 11.05 | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 11.44 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 11.02 | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 11.94 | +8.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 11.94 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.13, 2.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 11.94 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.72, 2.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.34 | 4.9 | 11.33 | 8 |
| 1990s | 8.97 | 3.15 | 15.36 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.54 | 10.94 | 25.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.54 | 13.14 | 21.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9 | 11.02 | 14.5 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More financial sector data for China
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.8 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in China?
- Total reserves in months of imports in China was 11.94 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 25.39 in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.15 in 1993.
- How does China rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- China ranks 13th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].