Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in United States
United States: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 2.8 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in United States, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
United States recorded 2.8 for total reserves in months of imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.6% on the previous year and up 106.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in United States peaked at 6.16 in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.8623, in 2000.
United States ranks 127th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.07 | — |
| 1971 | 2.7 | -12.1% |
| 1972 | 3.14 | +16.3% |
| 1973 | 4.1 | +30.8% |
| 1974 | 4.86 | +18.4% |
| 1975 | 3.89 | -19.9% |
| 1976 | 3.26 | -16.2% |
| 1977 | 3.3 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.63 | +9.9% |
| 1979 | 6.1 | +68.3% |
| 1980 | 6.16 | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 4.08 | -33.7% |
| 1982 | 4.84 | +18.5% |
| 1983 | 3.91 | -19.1% |
| 1984 | 2.65 | -32.2% |
| 1985 | 2.92 | +10.2% |
| 1986 | 3.17 | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 3.27 | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 2.61 | -20.2% |
| 1989 | 2.8 | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 2.74 | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 2.6 | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 2.31 | -11.1% |
| 1993 | 2.4 | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 2.06 | -13.9% |
| 1995 | 1.96 | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 1.66 | -15.0% |
| 1997 | 1.26 | -24.4% |
| 1998 | 1.29 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 1.08 | -16.1% |
| 2000 | 0.8623 | -20.4% |
| 2001 | 0.9478 | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 1.12 | +18.7% |
| 2003 | 1.21 | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 1.06 | -12.0% |
| 2005 | 0.9093 | -14.4% |
| 2006 | 0.9257 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 1.07 | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 1.09 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 1.93 | +78.1% |
| 2010 | 2.02 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 1.98 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 2.06 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.6 | -22.2% |
| 2014 | 1.49 | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 1.36 | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 1.45 | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 1.49 | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.37 | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 1.56 | +13.9% |
| 2020 | 2.1 | +35.0% |
| 2021 | 1.98 | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 1.69 | -14.7% |
| 2023 | 1.79 | +6.3% |
| 2024 | 1.94 | +7.9% |
| 2025 | 2.8 | +44.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.8 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.58, 78% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.8 | 2.7 | 6.1 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.64 | 2.61 | 6.16 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 | 1.08 | 2.74 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.11 | 0.8623 | 1.93 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 | 1.36 | 2.06 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.05 | 1.69 | 2.8 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 124 Saint Lucia 2.99 compare
- 125 Sri Lanka 2.87 compare
- 126 Ecuador 2.84 compare
- 128 Sao Tome and Principe 2.72 compare
- 129 San Marino 2.58 compare
- 130 El Salvador 2.45 compare
More financial sector data for United States
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 17.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 89.64 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 12.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 65.46 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 17.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 89.64 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 12.2 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in United States?
- Total reserves in months of imports in United States was 2.8 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 6.16 in 1980.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8623 in 2000.
- How does United States rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- United States ranks 127th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 106.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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)].