Top Sixty Foreign Reserves Countries in the World.

The Mathematical Formula For Calculating A Country's Foreign Reserves

Foreign Reserves = Total Value of Foreign Currency Deposits + Total Value of Gold Holdings + Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) + Reserve Position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Where:

Total Value of Foreign Currency Deposits: the amount of foreign currency held in a country's central bank or other financial institutions.

Total Value of Gold Holdings: the value of gold held by a country's central bank or other financial institutions.

Special Drawing Rights (SDRs): a reserve asset created by the IMF that is used to supplement the existing foreign exchange reserves of its member countries.

Reserve Position in the IMF: the amount of funds a country has on deposit with the IMF.

This formula is used to calculate a country's foreign reserves at a given point in time and is an important indicator of a country's economic health and ability to meet its financial obligations.

What Is The Parameter To Be Strong Foreign Currency Reserves Of A Country?

There are several parameters that can be used to assess the strength of a country's foreign currency reserves. Some of the key parameters are:

Adequacy Ratio: This is a measure of a country's foreign exchange reserves in relation to its external obligations. A commonly used benchmark for adequacy is to maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months of import payments.

Composition of Reserves: A country's reserves should be diversified across different currencies and assets to reduce the risk of currency fluctuations and market volatility.

Coverage of External Debt: A country's foreign reserves should be sufficient to cover its external debt obligations, including principal and interest payments.

Liquidity: The reserves should be easily accessible and able to be converted into cash quickly if needed.

Confidence of the Market: The market's confidence in the country’s economic and political stability can also affect the strength of its foreign currency reserves.

Overall, a country with strong foreign currency reserves is better able to withstand economic shocks and maintain its ability to conduct international trade and finance its external obligations.

Standard Size Of Strong Foreign Currency

The standard size of strong foreign currency reserves can vary depending on a country's economic circumstances and external obligations. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has established a general guideline that countries should maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months of import payments.

In addition to this benchmark, some countries may choose to hold higher levels of reserves as a precautionary measure against unexpected economic or financial shocks. For example, some emerging market economies have increased their foreign currency reserves in recent years to improve their resilience to external volatility and potential capital outflows.

It is important to note that the appropriate level of reserves for a country can depend on a range of factors, including its trade openness, exchange rate regime, and financial system. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what constitutes a strong level of foreign currency reserves.

What Is The Minimum Amount To Be Kept In A Country Of Foreign Currency Reserves?

The minimum amount of foreign currency reserves that a country should keep depends on several factors, including the size of its economy, its external obligations, and its level of economic openness.

As mentioned earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommends that countries maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months of import payments. This is considered a benchmark for the adequacy of foreign reserves.

However, some countries may choose to hold lower levels of reserves if they have a stable economy and minimal external obligations. For example, countries that have a low level of import payments or rely on domestic production for most of their goods and services may need less in foreign currency reserves.

On the other hand, some countries may choose to hold higher levels of reserves as a precautionary measure against potential economic or financial shocks. This can be particularly important for countries that have a high level of external debt or depend heavily on external trade.

In summary, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what is the minimum amount of foreign currency reserves a country should keep. It depends on several factors unique to each country's economic circumstances.

Top 60 Foreign Currency Reserves Countries in The World

Rank	Country or region	Foreign	Figures as of	Change from
		exchange		previous data
		reserves		(millions US$)
		(millions US$)		weekly/monthly
1	China	3,115,912	Feb-23	56,582
2	Japan	1,426,000	28-Feb-23	24,184
3	Switzerland	1,250,980	Jan-23	7,822
4	Russia	593,900	31-Mar-23	700
5	India	578,449	31-Mar-23	329
6	Taiwan	558,370	Feb-23	1,230
7	Saudi Arabia	437,762	Jan-23	32,964
8	Hong Kong	436,300	31-Jan-23	13,100
9	South Korea	414,006	Oct-22	2,764
10	Brazil	331,122	Jan-23	6,419
11	Singapore	289,484	Dec-22	1,790
12	Germany	277,458	Nov-22	3,037
13	United States	242,731	3-Mar-23	0,860
14	France	238,277	Oct-22	0,948
15	Thailand	225,486	Jan-23	8,854
16	Italy	211,308	Nov-22	1,932
17	Israel	201,000	Jan-23	6,782
18	Mexico	200,997	Jan-23	1,903
19	United Kingdom	182,790	Nov-22	6,686
20	Poland	148,954	Jun-22	5,321
21	Indonesia	140,311	Feb-23	0,907
22	Czech Republic	135,308	Feb-23	7,407
23	United Arab Emirates	115,725	Sep-22	3,540
24	Iraq	115,000	Feb-23	19,000
25	Malaysia	114,900	Jan-23	0,500
26	Canada	106,462	Nov-22	2,686
27	Philippines	100,215	Mar-23	1,999
28	Vietnam	92,101	Aug-22	6,504
29	Spain	87,229	30-Jun-22
30	Iran	86,000	Feb-20
—	European Union (ECB)	85,602	Aug-21	0,801
31	Denmark	73,922	May-22	0,315
32	Peru	73,416	30-Jun-22	3,000
33	Norway	70,287	Jun-22	2,843
34	Turkey	70,280	Mar-23	17,00
35	Libya	69,114	Mar-22	0,665
36	Romania	64,542	31-Mar-23	3,348
37	Algeria	60,914	Oct-20	1,454
38	Colombia	58,161	Sep-21	0,124
39	Australia	57,889	Dec-22	2,226
40	South Africa	54,473	Jun-21	0,334
41	Sweden	54,020	6-Mar-21	1,345
42	Netherlands	54,016	May-21	2,677
43	Kuwait	48,895	May-22	2,040
44	Chile	42,593	Apr-21	2,373
45	Qatar	42,341	May-22	1,305
46	Nigeria	40,660	22-Dec-21	4,652
47	Argentina	39,139	22-Dec-21	1,956
48	Egypt	37,909	7-Apr-22	3,910
49	Hungary	36,593	Apr-21	0,933
50	Morocco	27,800	Oct-21	0,380
51	Kazakhstan	35,438	Nov-21	0,382
52	Uzbekistan	35,139	1-Jan-22	0,390
53	Bulgaria	32,881	Apr-21	0,748
54	Ukraine	31,878	1-Apr-23	3,014
55	Belgium	31,762	Apr-21	0,860
56	Bangladesh	31,000	Mar-23
57	Portugal	29,050	Apr-21	2,391
58	Austria	28,513	Apr-21	0,842
59	Croatia	28,416	3-Jan-22	0,996
60	Macau	25,849	Apr-21	0,819