Gold reserves at market value (SDR), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Gold reserves at market value (SDR), per square kilometre was 5,109 SDR per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Gold reserves at market value (SDR), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in SDR per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 5,109 SDR per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.9% on the previous year and up 97.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 5,109 SDR per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 247.16 SDR per square kilometre, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 64th of 159 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gold reserves at market value (SDR), per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | SDR per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 247.16 SDR per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 411.96 SDR per square kilometre | +66.7% |
| 1963 | 520.52 SDR per square kilometre | +26.4% |
| 1964 | 475.08 SDR per square kilometre | -8.7% |
| 1965 | 351.46 SDR per square kilometre | -26.0% |
| 1966 | 527.96 SDR per square kilometre | +50.2% |
| 1967 | 482.84 SDR per square kilometre | -8.5% |
| 1968 | 1,227 SDR per square kilometre | +154.0% |
| 1969 | 924.47 SDR per square kilometre | -24.6% |
| 1970 | 586.23 SDR per square kilometre | -36.6% |
| 1971 | 388.24 SDR per square kilometre | -33.8% |
| 1972 | 883.52 SDR per square kilometre | +127.6% |
| 1973 | 1,457 SDR per square kilometre | +64.9% |
| 1974 | 2,292 SDR per square kilometre | +57.3% |
| 1975 | 1,753 SDR per square kilometre | -23.5% |
| 1976 | 1,211 SDR per square kilometre | -30.9% |
| 1977 | 1,088 SDR per square kilometre | -10.2% |
| 1978 | 1,400 SDR per square kilometre | +28.7% |
| 1979 | 3,214 SDR per square kilometre | +129.5% |
| 1980 | 4,629 SDR per square kilometre | +44.1% |
| 1981 | 2,615 SDR per square kilometre | -43.5% |
| 1982 | 2,585 SDR per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 2,340 SDR per square kilometre | -9.5% |
| 1984 | 1,908 SDR per square kilometre | -18.4% |
| 1985 | 1,188 SDR per square kilometre | -37.8% |
| 1986 | 1,270 SDR per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 1,640 SDR per square kilometre | +29.2% |
| 1988 | 872.05 SDR per square kilometre | -46.8% |
| 1989 | 774.73 SDR per square kilometre | -11.2% |
| 1990 | 912.41 SDR per square kilometre | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 1,318 SDR per square kilometre | +44.5% |
| 1992 | 1,329 SDR per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 1,116 SDR per square kilometre | -16.0% |
| 1994 | 908.93 SDR per square kilometre | -18.6% |
| 1995 | 911.51 SDR per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 802.27 SDR per square kilometre | -12.0% |
| 1997 | 707.43 SDR per square kilometre | -11.8% |
| 1998 | 673.98 SDR per square kilometre | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 686.85 SDR per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 1,024 SDR per square kilometre | +49.2% |
| 2001 | 1,037 SDR per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1,160 SDR per square kilometre | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 920.09 SDR per square kilometre | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 926.25 SDR per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1,180 SDR per square kilometre | +27.4% |
| 2006 | 1,390 SDR per square kilometre | +17.8% |
| 2007 | 1,738 SDR per square kilometre | +25.0% |
| 2008 | 1,866 SDR per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 2,295 SDR per square kilometre | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 3,021 SDR per square kilometre | +31.6% |
| 2011 | 3,304 SDR per square kilometre | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 3,590 SDR per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 2,593 SDR per square kilometre | -27.8% |
| 2014 | 2,762 SDR per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 2,539 SDR per square kilometre | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 2,830 SDR per square kilometre | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 3,024 SDR per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 3,061 SDR per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 3,658 SDR per square kilometre | +19.5% |
| 2020 | 4,362 SDR per square kilometre | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 4,320 SDR per square kilometre | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 4,525 SDR per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 5,109 SDR per square kilometre | +12.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 574.22 SDR per square kilometre | 247.16 SDR per square kilometre | 1,227 SDR per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,427 SDR per square kilometre | 388.24 SDR per square kilometre | 3,214 SDR per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,982 SDR per square kilometre | 774.73 SDR per square kilometre | 4,629 SDR per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 936.64 SDR per square kilometre | 673.98 SDR per square kilometre | 1,329 SDR per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,354 SDR per square kilometre | 920.09 SDR per square kilometre | 2,295 SDR per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,038 SDR per square kilometre | 2,539 SDR per square kilometre | 3,658 SDR per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,579 SDR per square kilometre | 4,320 SDR per square kilometre | 5,109 SDR per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 61 Bangladesh 5,343 SDR per square kilometre compare
- 62 Latvia 5,286 SDR per square kilometre compare
- 63 Ecuador 5,230 SDR per square kilometre compare
- 65 Lithuania 4,592 SDR per square kilometre compare
- 66 Pakistan 4,146 SDR per square kilometre compare
- 67 Syrian Arab Republic 4,125 SDR per square kilometre compare
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 10.08 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre in South Africa was 5,109 SDR per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,109 SDR per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 247.16 SDR per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 159 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gold reserves at market value (sdr), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Gold reserves at market value (SDR), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Gold reserves at market value (SDR) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Gold reserves at market value (SDR) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Gold reserves at market value International Monetary Fund
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Gold reserves at market value (SDR) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.