Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$) was -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Reserves and related items in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ for reserves and related items in 2025.
That represents a change of down 66.0% on the previous year and down 137.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserves and related items in South Korea peaked at 68.67 billion BoP, current US$ in 2009 and was at its lowest, -56.16 billion BoP, current US$, in 2008.
That places South Korea 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 1.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 730.64 million BoP, current US$ | -46.7% |
| 1979 | 895.30 million BoP, current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1980 | 264.55 million BoP, current US$ | -70.5% |
| 1981 | -257.37 million BoP, current US$ | -197.3% |
| 1982 | 11.61 million BoP, current US$ | -104.5% |
| 1983 | -179.58 million BoP, current US$ | -1646.9% |
| 1984 | 472.35 million BoP, current US$ | -363.0% |
| 1985 | 200.91 million BoP, current US$ | -57.5% |
| 1986 | 55.57 million BoP, current US$ | -72.3% |
| 1987 | 2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +3681.4% |
| 1988 | 9.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +344.4% |
| 1989 | 3.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -63.5% |
| 1990 | -1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -132.6% |
| 1991 | -1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 3.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -451.5% |
| 1993 | 3.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.9% |
| 1994 | 4.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.8% |
| 1995 | 7.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.9% |
| 1996 | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -79.6% |
| 1997 | -23.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -1678.1% |
| 1998 | 25.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -209.4% |
| 1999 | 33.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.6% |
| 2000 | 23.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.1% |
| 2001 | 13.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -44.2% |
| 2002 | 12.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 26.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +116.3% |
| 2004 | 38.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.7% |
| 2005 | 19.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -49.9% |
| 2006 | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 14.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.6% |
| 2008 | -56.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -474.5% |
| 2009 | 68.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -222.3% |
| 2010 | 26.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.7% |
| 2011 | 13.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.3% |
| 2012 | 13.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 16.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2014 | 17.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2015 | 12.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.6% |
| 2016 | 7.62 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.8% |
| 2017 | 4.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -42.8% |
| 2018 | 17.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +301.5% |
| 2019 | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -91.6% |
| 2020 | 17.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +1086.2% |
| 2021 | 14.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2022 | -27.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -287.8% |
| 2023 | -2.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -89.4% |
| 2024 | -2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.8% |
| 2025 | -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +66.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 345.55 million BoP, current US$. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.07 million BoP, current US$. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +3681.4% | 55.57 million BoP, current US$ | 2.10 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1997 | -1678.1% | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.12 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1983 | -1646.9% | 11.61 million BoP, current US$ | -179.58 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2020 | +1086.2% | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.39 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1992 | +451.5% | -1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.81 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2008 | -474.5% | 14.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -56.16 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 730.64 million BoP, current US$ | 1.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -257.37 million BoP, current US$ | 9.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 33.54 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -56.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 68.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 26.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -977.37 million BoP, current US$ | -27.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 183 Panama -2.68 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 184 Bulgaria -3.56 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 185 Kuwait -4.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 187 Kazakhstan -5.37 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 188 Philippines -5.66 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 189 Argentina -7.22 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -49.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0085 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 307.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0062 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 224.29 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0047 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 168.75 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserves and related items in South Korea?
- Reserves and related items in South Korea was -4.53 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest reserves and related items recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 68.67 billion BoP, current US$ in 2009.
- What is the lowest reserves and related items recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -56.16 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008.
- How does South Korea rank for reserves and related items?
- South Korea ranks 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserves and related items rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 137.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserves and related items is the net change in a country's holdings of international reserves resulting from transactions on the current, capital, and financial accounts. 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.Also included are net credit and loans from the IMF (excluding reserve position) and total exceptional financing. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.