Total reserves in South Korea
South Korea: Total reserves was 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
436.57 billion includes gold, current US$
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
9th
of 182 countries
All-time high
463.28 billion includes gold, current US$
in 2021
All-time low
131.46 million includes gold, current US$
in 1963
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Total reserves in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in includes gold, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, total reserves in South Korea stood at 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in South Korea peaked at 463.28 billion includes gold, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 131.46 million includes gold, current US$, in 1963.
South Korea ranks 9th of 182 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in South Korea, year by year
| Year | includes gold, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 157.02 million includes gold, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 207.05 million includes gold, current US$ | +31.9% |
| 1962 | 168.65 million includes gold, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1963 | 131.46 million includes gold, current US$ | -22.1% |
| 1964 | 136.36 million includes gold, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 146.29 million includes gold, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 245.21 million includes gold, current US$ | +67.6% |
| 1967 | 356.58 million includes gold, current US$ | +45.4% |
| 1968 | 391.78 million includes gold, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1969 | 552.93 million includes gold, current US$ | +41.1% |
| 1970 | 609.95 million includes gold, current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 437.82 million includes gold, current US$ | -28.2% |
| 1972 | 529.91 million includes gold, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1973 | 897.14 million includes gold, current US$ | +69.3% |
| 1974 | 297.74 million includes gold, current US$ | -66.8% |
| 1975 | 796.94 million includes gold, current US$ | +167.7% |
| 1976 | 1.99 billion includes gold, current US$ | +149.1% |
| 1977 | 2.99 billion includes gold, current US$ | +50.7% |
| 1978 | 2.83 billion includes gold, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 3.11 billion includes gold, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1980 | 3.10 billion includes gold, current US$ | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 2.80 billion includes gold, current US$ | -9.6% |
| 1982 | 2.95 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 2.46 billion includes gold, current US$ | -16.4% |
| 1984 | 2.85 billion includes gold, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1985 | 2.97 billion includes gold, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 3.44 billion includes gold, current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1987 | 3.74 billion includes gold, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 12.48 billion includes gold, current US$ | +233.8% |
| 1989 | 15.34 billion includes gold, current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1990 | 14.92 billion includes gold, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 13.81 billion includes gold, current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 17.23 billion includes gold, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 1993 | 20.35 billion includes gold, current US$ | +18.1% |
| 1994 | 25.76 billion includes gold, current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1995 | 32.80 billion includes gold, current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1996 | 34.16 billion includes gold, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 20.47 billion includes gold, current US$ | -40.1% |
| 1998 | 52.10 billion includes gold, current US$ | +154.6% |
| 1999 | 74.11 billion includes gold, current US$ | +42.3% |
| 2000 | 96.25 billion includes gold, current US$ | +29.9% |
| 2001 | 102.88 billion includes gold, current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 121.50 billion includes gold, current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2003 | 155.47 billion includes gold, current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 199.19 billion includes gold, current US$ | +28.1% |
| 2005 | 210.55 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 239.15 billion includes gold, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 262.53 billion includes gold, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 201.54 billion includes gold, current US$ | -23.2% |
| 2009 | 270.44 billion includes gold, current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2010 | 292.14 billion includes gold, current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 306.94 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 327.72 billion includes gold, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 345.69 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 362.83 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 366.71 billion includes gold, current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 370.15 billion includes gold, current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 388.81 billion includes gold, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 403.08 billion includes gold, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 408.82 billion includes gold, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 443.46 billion includes gold, current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 463.28 billion includes gold, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 423.37 billion includes gold, current US$ | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 420.93 billion includes gold, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 418.22 billion includes gold, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$ | +4.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.15 billion includes gold, current US$, 9.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 27.84 billion includes gold, current US$, 15.7× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +233.8% | 3.74 billion includes gold, current US$ | 12.48 billion includes gold, current US$ |
| 1975 | +167.7% | 297.74 million includes gold, current US$ | 796.94 million includes gold, current US$ |
| 1998 | +154.6% | 20.47 billion includes gold, current US$ | 52.10 billion includes gold, current US$ |
| 1976 | +149.1% | 796.94 million includes gold, current US$ | 1.99 billion includes gold, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 249.33 million includes gold, current US$ | 131.46 million includes gold, current US$ | 552.93 million includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.45 billion includes gold, current US$ | 297.74 million includes gold, current US$ | 3.11 billion includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.21 billion includes gold, current US$ | 2.46 billion includes gold, current US$ | 15.34 billion includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.57 billion includes gold, current US$ | 13.81 billion includes gold, current US$ | 74.11 billion includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 185.95 billion includes gold, current US$ | 96.25 billion includes gold, current US$ | 270.44 billion includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 357.29 billion includes gold, current US$ | 292.14 billion includes gold, current US$ | 408.82 billion includes gold, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 434.31 billion includes gold, current US$ | 418.22 billion includes gold, current US$ | 463.28 billion includes gold, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 6 Russia 608.36 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
- 7 Germany 572.20 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
- 8 Saudi Arabia 505.16 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
- 10 Italy 434.01 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
- 11 Singapore 432.11 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
- 12 France 428.21 billion includes gold, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in South Korea?
- Total reserves in South Korea was 436.57 billion includes gold, current US$ in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 463.28 billion includes gold, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 131.46 million includes gold, current US$ in 1963.
- How does South Korea rank for total reserves?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 182 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves (includes gold, current US$). 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 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.