Official Reserve Assets and Other Foreign Currency Assets in South Africa
South Africa: Official Reserve Assets and Other Foreign Currency Assets was 36.64 billion in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Official Reserve Assets and Other Foreign Currency Assets in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 36.64 billion for official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets in South Africa peaked at 36.73 billion in 2020 and was at its lowest, 37.00 million, in 2002.
That places South Africa 30th out of 90 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Official Reserve Assets and Other Foreign Currency Assets in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 81.00 million | — |
| 2001 | 82.00 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 37.00 million | -54.9% |
| 2003 | 37.00 million | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 238.00 million | +543.2% |
| 2005 | 253.00 million | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 263.00 million | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 1.41 billion | +434.2% |
| 2008 | 1.48 billion | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 3.95 billion | +166.1% |
| 2010 | 4.01 billion | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 5.25 billion | +31.1% |
| 2012 | 5.30 billion | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 32.15 billion | +506.5% |
| 2014 | 36.05 billion | +12.1% |
| 2015 | 34.63 billion | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 32.71 billion | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 34.98 billion | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 35.17 billion | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 36.16 billion | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 36.73 billion | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 36.19 billion | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 34.45 billion | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 34.89 billion | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 34.62 billion | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 36.64 billion | +5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 782.94 million | 37.00 million | 3.95 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.64 billion | 4.01 billion | 36.16 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.59 billion | 34.45 billion | 36.73 billion | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets in South Africa?
- Official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets in South Africa was 36.64 billion in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.73 billion in 2020.
- What is the lowest official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.00 million in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 90 countries with data for 2025.
- Is official reserve assets and other foreign currency assets rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. 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 Official Reserve Assets and Other Foreign Currency Assets (approximate market value), Official reserve currency and deposits, securities (International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity: Guidelines for a Data Template 2013 (IRFCL 2013), Monetary Authorities and Central Government excluding Soc. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity (IRFCL, or the “Reserves Data Template”) dataset includes data on the amount and composition of countries’ official reserve assets, other foreign currency assets held by monetary authorities and central governments, and short-term foreign currency obligations and related activities of monetary authorities and central governments that can lead to drains on official reserves and other foreign currency assets. This website re-disseminates IMF member countries' data on international reserves and foreign currency liquidity in a common template and in a common currency (the U.S. dollar). Historical data by country are also available. Please note that the re-dissemination of the template data by the Fund does not constitute endorsement of the quality of the data by the Fund.