Source: IMF COFERQ4 2025
🇬🇧
Pound Sterling
GBP Reserve Currency
4.64%Global Share
$609.7BTotal Amount
-0.21ppQoQ Change
The British Pound Sterling, once the world's dominant reserve currency, now holds approximately 4.6% of global reserves. London's role as a financial center continues to support demand for GBP reserves. It ranks fourth after the USD, EUR, and JPY.
Year over Year
+2.6%
GrowingAmount change YoY
5-Year Trend
+0.22pp
GrowingShare change since 2020
Rank
#4
of 8 currenciesBy reserve share
Reserve Holders
11
reporting countriesKnown major holders
GBP Historical Trend
Share of global reserves, 2015-2025
Top GBP Reserve Holders
| # | Country | Estimated Holdings | Share of GBP Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇨🇳China | 17.2% | |
| 2 | 🇯🇵Japan | 14.4% | |
| 3 | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 12.8% | |
| 4 | 🇮🇳India | 10.7% | |
| 5 | 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia | 8.5% | |
| 6 | 🇭🇰Hong Kong | 7.4% | |
| 7 | 🇰🇷South Korea | 6.2% | |
| 8 | 🇸🇬Singapore | 5.7% | |
| 9 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 4.9% | |
| 10 | 🇳🇴Norway | 4.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does the British Pound play in reserves?
The British Pound holds approximately 4.64% of global reserves. While it was once the world's dominant reserve currency, it now serves as the fourth most held currency in central bank reserves.