Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 15.59 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in months of imports in Saudi Arabia is 15.59, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 37.37 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.39, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 4th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 10.96 | — |
| 1972 | 16.6 | +51.4% |
| 1973 | 10.12 | -39.1% |
| 1974 | 21.61 | +113.6% |
| 1975 | 22.68 | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 15.17 | -33.1% |
| 1977 | 12.56 | -17.2% |
| 1978 | 6.23 | -50.4% |
| 1979 | 5.16 | -17.3% |
| 1980 | 5 | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 5.13 | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 5.03 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 4.74 | -5.7% |
| 1984 | 4.86 | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 6.63 | +36.4% |
| 1986 | 6.35 | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 7.92 | +24.8% |
| 1988 | 7.6 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 5.57 | -26.8% |
| 1990 | 3.58 | -35.8% |
| 1991 | 2.4 | -33.0% |
| 1992 | 1.39 | -41.9% |
| 1993 | 2.11 | +51.3% |
| 1994 | 2.6 | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 2.65 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.68 | +38.7% |
| 1997 | 3.52 | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 3.94 | +11.7% |
| 1999 | 4.64 | +17.9% |
| 2000 | 4.48 | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 4.31 | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 4.97 | +15.4% |
| 2003 | 4.99 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 4.98 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 20.15 | +304.2% |
| 2006 | 23.79 | +18.1% |
| 2007 | 25.45 | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 30.68 | +20.5% |
| 2009 | 29.93 | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 30.54 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 32.61 | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 36.47 | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 37.37 | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 33.51 | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 29.52 | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 31.7 | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 28.78 | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 27.25 | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 25.6 | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 27.84 | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 25.12 | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 20.02 | -20.3% |
| 2023 | 16.57 | -17.2% |
| 2024 | 15.06 | -9.1% |
| 2025 | 15.59 | +3.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 15.59 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.58, 4.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 15.59 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.69, 2.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +304.2% | 4.98 | 20.15 |
| 1974 | +113.6% | 10.12 | 21.61 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.46 | 5.16 | 22.68 | 9 |
| 1980s | 5.88 | 4.74 | 7.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.05 | 1.39 | 4.64 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.37 | 4.31 | 30.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.34 | 25.6 | 37.37 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.03 | 15.06 | 27.84 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More financial sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.5 % 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 93.38 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % 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 68.19 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.5 % 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 93.38 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Saudi Arabia was 15.59 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.37 in 2013.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.39 in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 4th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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)].