Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 4.28 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Total reserves in months of imports in Malaysia, 1974–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in months of imports in Malaysia is 4.28, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Malaysia peaked at 7.24 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 2.57, in 1997.
Malaysia ranks 91st of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 4.26 | — |
| 1975 | 4.17 | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 6.01 | +44.0% |
| 1977 | 5.78 | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 5.35 | -7.5% |
| 1979 | 5.23 | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 4.57 | -12.6% |
| 1981 | 3.69 | -19.3% |
| 1982 | 3.25 | -12.1% |
| 1983 | 2.85 | -12.3% |
| 1984 | 2.57 | -9.5% |
| 1985 | 3.71 | +43.9% |
| 1986 | 5.1 | +37.5% |
| 1987 | 5.57 | +9.2% |
| 1988 | 3.94 | -29.1% |
| 1989 | 3.66 | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 3.6 | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 3.21 | -10.9% |
| 1992 | 4.44 | +38.1% |
| 1993 | 5.84 | +31.6% |
| 1994 | 4.31 | -26.1% |
| 1995 | 3.17 | -26.6% |
| 1996 | 3.41 | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 2.57 | -24.6% |
| 1998 | 4.32 | +67.8% |
| 1999 | 4.44 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 3.31 | -25.4% |
| 2001 | 3.78 | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 4.04 | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 5.01 | +24.1% |
| 2004 | 6.16 | +23.1% |
| 2005 | 5.94 | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 6.2 | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 6.7 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 5.59 | -16.6% |
| 2009 | 7.24 | +29.6% |
| 2010 | 6.34 | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 6.92 | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 6.96 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 6.67 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 5.67 | -15.0% |
| 2015 | 5.51 | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 5.64 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 5.51 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 4.91 | -10.8% |
| 2019 | 5.27 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 6.27 | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 5.19 | -17.3% |
| 2022 | 4.33 | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 4.75 | +9.7% |
| 2024 | 4.42 | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 4.28 | -3.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 4.28 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.13, 83% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 4.28 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.72, 75% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.13 | 4.17 | 6.01 | 6 |
| 1980s | 3.89 | 2.57 | 5.57 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.93 | 2.57 | 5.84 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4 | 3.31 | 7.24 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.94 | 4.91 | 6.96 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.87 | 4.28 | 6.27 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More financial sector data for Malaysia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 35.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.8573 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 26.13 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 35.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.8573 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Malaysia?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Malaysia was 4.28 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.24 in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.57 in 1997.
- How does Malaysia rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Malaysia ranks 91st out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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)].