20 countries with the largest foreign exchange reserves

India is among the top 10 nations in terms of foreign exchange reserves.

Foreign exchange reserves, often taken as a yardstick to gauge a country's financial strength, are the foreign currency deposits and bonds held by central banks or monetary authorities (it is the Reserve Bank in the case of India).

Forex reserves include a country's gold holdings and convertible foreign currencies held in its banks, including special drawing rights and exchange reserve balances, with the International Monetary Fund.

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China (Rank 1)

Foreign exchange reserves: $3.31 trillion
(As of Dec 2012)

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Saudi Arabia (Rank 3)

Foreign exchange reserves: $626.80 billion
(As of Dec 2012)

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Russia (Rank 4)

Foreign exchange reserves: $527.70 billion
(As of March 2013)

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Taiwan (Rank 6)

Foreign exchange reserves: $403.17 billion
(As of Dec 2012)

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Republic of Korea (Rank 8)

Foreign exchange reserves: $327.39 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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India (Rank 10)

Foreign exchange reserves: $290.91 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Singapore (Rank 11)

Foreign exchange reserves: $259.13 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Germany (Rank 12)

Foreign exchange reserves: $240.55 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Algeria (Rank 13)

Foreign exchange reserves: $190.50 billion
(As of Dec 2012)

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Thailand (Rank 14)

Foreign exchange reserves: $179.27 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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France (Rank 15)

Foreign exchange reserves: $179.24 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Italy (Rank 16)

Foreign exchange reserves: $175.58 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Mexico (Rank 17)

Foreign exchange reserves: $171.25 billion
(As of Jan 2013)

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United States (Rank 18)

Foreign exchange reserves: $148.03 billion
(As of Mar 2013)

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Malaysia (Rank 19)

Foreign exchange reserves: $140.30 billion
(As of Feb 2013)

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Libya (Rank 20)

Foreign exchange reserves: $130.30 billion
(As of Dec 2012)