Gold reserves at market value in South Africa
South Africa: Gold reserves at market value was 12.87 billion SDR in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
12.87 billion SDR
Change on year
up 59.5%
World rank
32nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
12.87 billion SDR
in 2025
All-time low
168.69 million SDR
in 1952
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Gold reserves at market value in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in SDR.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gold reserves at market value in South Africa is 12.87 billion SDR, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 59.5% on the previous year and up 317.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gold reserves at market value in South Africa peaked at 12.87 billion SDR in 2025 and was at its lowest, 168.69 million SDR, in 1952.
South Africa ranks 32nd of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gold reserves at market value in South Africa, year by year
| Year | SDR | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 195.07 million SDR | — |
| 1951 | 188.47 million SDR | -3.4% |
| 1952 | 168.69 million SDR | -10.5% |
| 1953 | 174.94 million SDR | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 199.38 million SDR | +14.0% |
| 1955 | 211.92 million SDR | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 223.42 million SDR | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 216.65 million SDR | -3.0% |
| 1958 | 211.88 million SDR | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 238.83 million SDR | +12.7% |
| 1960 | 181.20 million SDR | -24.1% |
| 1961 | 299.83 million SDR | +65.5% |
| 1962 | 499.75 million SDR | +66.7% |
| 1963 | 631.44 million SDR | +26.4% |
| 1964 | 576.32 million SDR | -8.7% |
| 1965 | 426.36 million SDR | -26.0% |
| 1966 | 640.46 million SDR | +50.2% |
| 1967 | 585.73 million SDR | -8.5% |
| 1968 | 1.49 billion SDR | +154.0% |
| 1969 | 1.12 billion SDR | -24.6% |
| 1970 | 711.15 million SDR | -36.6% |
| 1971 | 470.97 million SDR | -33.8% |
| 1972 | 1.07 billion SDR | +127.6% |
| 1973 | 1.77 billion SDR | +64.9% |
| 1974 | 2.78 billion SDR | +57.3% |
| 1975 | 2.13 billion SDR | -23.5% |
| 1976 | 1.47 billion SDR | -30.9% |
| 1977 | 1.32 billion SDR | -10.2% |
| 1978 | 1.70 billion SDR | +28.7% |
| 1979 | 3.90 billion SDR | +129.5% |
| 1980 | 5.62 billion SDR | +44.1% |
| 1981 | 3.17 billion SDR | -43.5% |
| 1982 | 3.14 billion SDR | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 2.84 billion SDR | -9.5% |
| 1984 | 2.31 billion SDR | -18.4% |
| 1985 | 1.44 billion SDR | -37.8% |
| 1986 | 1.54 billion SDR | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 1.99 billion SDR | +29.2% |
| 1988 | 1.06 billion SDR | -46.8% |
| 1989 | 939.82 million SDR | -11.2% |
| 1990 | 1.11 billion SDR | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 1.60 billion SDR | +44.5% |
| 1992 | 1.61 billion SDR | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 1.35 billion SDR | -16.0% |
| 1994 | 1.10 billion SDR | -18.6% |
| 1995 | 1.11 billion SDR | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 973.23 million SDR | -12.0% |
| 1997 | 858.18 million SDR | -11.8% |
| 1998 | 817.60 million SDR | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 833.21 million SDR | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 1.24 billion SDR | +49.2% |
| 2001 | 1.26 billion SDR | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.41 billion SDR | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 1.12 billion SDR | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 1.12 billion SDR | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.43 billion SDR | +27.4% |
| 2006 | 1.69 billion SDR | +17.8% |
| 2007 | 2.11 billion SDR | +25.0% |
| 2008 | 2.26 billion SDR | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 2.78 billion SDR | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 3.67 billion SDR | +31.6% |
| 2011 | 4.01 billion SDR | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 4.35 billion SDR | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 3.15 billion SDR | -27.8% |
| 2014 | 3.35 billion SDR | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 3.08 billion SDR | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 3.43 billion SDR | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 3.67 billion SDR | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 3.71 billion SDR | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 4.44 billion SDR | +19.5% |
| 2020 | 5.29 billion SDR | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 5.24 billion SDR | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 5.49 billion SDR | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 6.20 billion SDR | +12.9% |
| 2024 | 8.07 billion SDR | +30.2% |
| 2025 | 12.87 billion SDR | +59.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 202.93 million SDR | 168.69 million SDR | 238.83 million SDR | 10 |
| 1960s | 645.04 million SDR | 181.20 million SDR | 1.49 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.73 billion SDR | 470.97 million SDR | 3.90 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.40 billion SDR | 939.82 million SDR | 5.62 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.14 billion SDR | 817.60 million SDR | 1.61 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.64 billion SDR | 1.12 billion SDR | 2.78 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.69 billion SDR | 3.08 billion SDR | 4.44 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.19 billion SDR | 5.24 billion SDR | 12.87 billion SDR | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 9.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.0877 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 578.61 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 658.6 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 10.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 857.36 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gold reserves at market value in South Africa?
- Gold reserves at market value in South Africa was 12.87 billion SDR in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gold reserves at market value recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.87 billion SDR in 2025.
- What is the lowest gold reserves at market value recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 168.69 million SDR in 1952.
- How does South Africa rank for gold reserves at market value?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gold reserves at market value rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 317.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gold reserves at market value (SDR). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
International liquidity consists of all the resources that are available to the monetary authorities of countries for the purpose of meeting balance of payments financing needs.