Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 1.39 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Total reserves in months of imports in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in months of imports in United Kingdom is 1.39, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 17.1% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in United Kingdom peaked at 3.36 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 0.5308, in 2008.
United Kingdom ranks 156th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.22 | — |
| 1971 | 3.36 | +176.2% |
| 1972 | 1.8 | -46.3% |
| 1973 | 1.73 | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 1.6 | -7.2% |
| 1975 | 1.19 | -26.1% |
| 1976 | 0.9551 | -19.4% |
| 1977 | 3.21 | +236.1% |
| 1978 | 2.38 | -26.0% |
| 1979 | 2.33 | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 2.01 | -13.6% |
| 1981 | 1.41 | -29.7% |
| 1982 | 1.3 | -7.7% |
| 1983 | 1.26 | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 0.9864 | -21.5% |
| 1985 | 1.19 | +21.1% |
| 1986 | 1.47 | +23.1% |
| 1987 | 2.36 | +60.4% |
| 1988 | 1.95 | -17.4% |
| 1989 | 1.44 | -26.3% |
| 1990 | 1.27 | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 1.49 | +18.0% |
| 1992 | 1.34 | -10.4% |
| 1993 | 1.45 | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 1.47 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 1.27 | -13.2% |
| 1996 | 1.12 | -11.9% |
| 1997 | 0.8482 | -24.5% |
| 1998 | 0.8497 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.9096 | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 0.9351 | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 0.8764 | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 1.01 | +15.0% |
| 2003 | 0.9246 | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 0.8371 | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 0.6866 | -18.0% |
| 2006 | 0.5975 | -13.0% |
| 2007 | 0.6147 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 0.5308 | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 0.9653 | +81.9% |
| 2010 | 1.14 | +17.7% |
| 2011 | 1.12 | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 1.21 | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 1.2 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.21 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.57 | +29.7% |
| 2016 | 1.5 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 1.59 | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 1.62 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.68 | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 2.12 | +25.6% |
| 2021 | 1.91 | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 1.41 | -26.2% |
| 2023 | 1.25 | -11.2% |
| 2024 | 1.18 | -5.6% |
| 2025 | 1.39 | +17.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.39 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.58, 39% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.39 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.5, 40% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +236.1% | 0.9551 | 3.21 |
| 1971 | +176.2% | 1.22 | 3.36 |
| 2009 | +81.9% | 0.5308 | 0.9653 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.98 | 0.9551 | 3.36 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.54 | 0.9864 | 2.36 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2 | 0.8482 | 1.49 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7976 | 0.5308 | 1.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 | 1.12 | 1.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 | 1.18 | 2.12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More financial sector data for United Kingdom
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 104.99 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 76.66 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 10.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 104.99 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in United Kingdom?
- Total reserves in months of imports in United Kingdom was 1.39 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3.36 in 1971.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5308 in 2008.
- How does United Kingdom rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- United Kingdom ranks 156th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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)].