Total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Total reserves in months of imports was 6.46 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea, 1976–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
In 2025, total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea stood at 6.46.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea peaked at 9.35 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9559, in 1983.
That places Republic of Korea 45th out of 178 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.36 | — |
| 1977 | 2.7 | +14.7% |
| 1978 | 1.81 | -32.9% |
| 1979 | 1.55 | -14.6% |
| 1980 | 1.33 | -14.2% |
| 1981 | 1.05 | -21.0% |
| 1982 | 1.14 | +8.9% |
| 1983 | 0.9559 | -16.4% |
| 1984 | 1.04 | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 1.16 | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 1.11 | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 0.9685 | -12.4% |
| 1988 | 2.65 | +173.7% |
| 1989 | 2.74 | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 2.32 | -15.2% |
| 1991 | 1.84 | -20.8% |
| 1992 | 2.26 | +22.6% |
| 1993 | 2.53 | +12.4% |
| 1994 | 2.62 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 2.49 | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 2.31 | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 1.4 | -39.4% |
| 1998 | 5.15 | +267.8% |
| 1999 | 6.02 | +17.0% |
| 2000 | 5.81 | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 6.82 | +17.3% |
| 2002 | 7.55 | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 8.33 | +10.4% |
| 2004 | 8.54 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 7.61 | -10.9% |
| 2006 | 7.28 | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 6.86 | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 4.46 | -34.9% |
| 2009 | 7.8 | +74.8% |
| 2010 | 6.55 | -16.1% |
| 2011 | 5.39 | -17.6% |
| 2012 | 5.77 | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 6.2 | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 6.54 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 7.92 | +21.1% |
| 2016 | 8.39 | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 7.56 | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 7.12 | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 7.71 | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 9.35 | +21.3% |
| 2021 | 7.5 | -19.8% |
| 2022 | 5.9 | -21.4% |
| 2023 | 6.32 | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 6.2 | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 6.46 | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1 | 1.55 | 2.7 | 4 |
| 1980s | 1.41 | 0.9559 | 2.74 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.89 | 1.4 | 6.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.11 | 4.46 | 8.54 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.92 | 5.39 | 8.39 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.96 | 5.9 | 9.35 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 42 Bhutan 6.61 compare
- 43 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.49 compare
- 44 Jamaica 6.47 compare
- 46 South Africa 6.22 compare
- 47 Serbia 6.16 compare
- 48 Timor-Leste 6.07 compare
More financial sector data for Republic of Korea
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 4.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate -2.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.1572 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 5,693 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate -1.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 5,961 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate -0.594 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 6,168 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Republic of Korea was 6.46 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.35 in 2020.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9559 in 1983.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Republic of Korea ranks 45th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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)].