Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in South Korea
South Korea: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 6.46 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
In 2025, total reserves in months of imports in South 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 South Korea peaked at 9.35 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9559, in 1983.
That places South Korea 45th out of 179 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 (reserves International Financial) in South 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% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6.46 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.58, 1.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6.46 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.72, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +267.8% | 1.4 | 5.15 |
| 1988 | +173.7% | 0.9685 | 2.65 |
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 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 total reserves in months of imports in South Korea?
- Total reserves in months of imports in South 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.35 in 2020.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9559 in 1983.
- How does South Korea rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- South Korea ranks 45th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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)].