United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was among the most powerful economies in the original Bretton Woods system and held a very large initial SDR allocation. The British pound sterling remains one of the five SDR basket currencies. The UK's quota share declined from over 10% in 1970 to around 4% today, reflecting the relative shift in global economic power. Brexit had minimal direct impact on IMF membership or SDR status.

Current Allocation

SDR 20.2B

2026

Current Holdings

SDR 19.0B

-5.7% vs allocation

IMF Quota Share

4.03%

SDR 20.2B quota

Allocation Growth

+4816%

Since 1970

Initial SDR Allocation

First Allocation Year

1970

Initial SDR Allocation

SDR 410M

Initial Quota Share

10.82%

SDR Allocation & Holdings Over Time

Allocation

Holdings

IMF Quota Share Evolution (%)

Decade-by-Decade SDR Status

Year	Allocation (M SDR)	Holdings (M SDR)	Quota Share	Net Position	Note
1970	410	410	10.82%	+0	Founding member; post-war sterling bloc
1981	1,298	1,100	5.3%	-198	Quota reduced after balance of payments crises
1991	2,158	2,000	5.03%	-158	—
2001	4,653	4,400	4.94%	-253	—
2011	10,739	11,000	4.29%	+262	—
2021	20,155	19,200	4.03%	-955	2021 allocation; sterling in SDR basket
2026Current	20,155	19,000	4.03%	-1,155	Current status

2026 — Current SDR Status

Total Allocation

SDR 20,155M

Current Holdings

SDR 19,000M

IMF Quota (SDR)

SDR 20,155M

Status

▼ Net Borrower (-5.7%)