Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Japan
Japan: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 14.01 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Total reserves in months of imports in Japan, 1996–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
Japan recorded 14.01 for total reserves in months of imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.1% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Japan peaked at 18.52 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.41, in 1996.
Japan ranks 7th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 5.41 | — |
| 1997 | 5.68 | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 6.61 | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 8.25 | +24.8% |
| 2000 | 8.8 | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 10.69 | +21.6% |
| 2002 | 13.07 | +22.3% |
| 2003 | 17.06 | +30.5% |
| 2004 | 17.96 | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 15.84 | -11.8% |
| 2006 | 15.02 | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 15.01 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 13.33 | -11.2% |
| 2009 | 18.38 | +37.9% |
| 2010 | 15.81 | -14.0% |
| 2011 | 15.23 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 14.23 | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 14.97 | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 14.21 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 16.8 | +18.2% |
| 2016 | 16.97 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 16.27 | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 14.69 | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 15.42 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 18.52 | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 16.07 | -13.2% |
| 2022 | 12.34 | -23.2% |
| 2023 | 13.52 | +9.6% |
| 2024 | 12.95 | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 14.01 | +8.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 14.01 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.58, 3.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 14.01 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.72, 2.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.49 | 5.41 | 8.25 | 4 |
| 2000s | 14.52 | 8.8 | 18.38 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.46 | 14.21 | 16.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.57 | 12.34 | 18.52 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 4 Saudi Arabia 15.59 compare
- 5 Nepal 15.52 compare
- 6 Israel 14.36 compare
- 8 Lebanon 13.6 compare
- 9 Uzbekistan 13.59 compare
- 10 Switzerland 13.07 compare
More financial sector data for Japan
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 91.29 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0019 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 66.66 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 91.29 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Japan?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Japan was 14.01 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 18.52 in 2020.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.41 in 1996.
- How does Japan rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Japan ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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)].