Reserve assets in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets was 75.87 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
75.87 billion US dollar
Change on year
up 15.9%
World rank
33rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
75.87 billion US dollar
in 2025
All-time low
260.40 million US dollar
in 1960
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Reserve assets in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 75.87 billion US dollar for reserve assets in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.9% on the previous year and up 65.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets in South Africa peaked at 75.87 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 260.40 million US dollar, in 1960.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserve assets in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 407.45 million US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 325.09 million US dollar | -20.2% |
| 1958 | 337.25 million US dollar | +3.7% |
| 1959 | 444.60 million US dollar | +31.8% |
| 1960 | 260.40 million US dollar | -41.4% |
| 1961 | 409.35 million US dollar | +57.2% |
| 1962 | 691.29 million US dollar | +68.9% |
| 1963 | 801.45 million US dollar | +15.9% |
| 1964 | 679.85 million US dollar | -15.2% |
| 1965 | 613.09 million US dollar | -9.8% |
| 1966 | 767.68 million US dollar | +25.2% |
| 1967 | 737.32 million US dollar | -4.0% |
| 1968 | 1.49 billion US dollar | +101.5% |
| 1969 | 1.34 billion US dollar | -9.8% |
| 1970 | 1.07 billion US dollar | -19.9% |
| 1971 | 765.76 million US dollar | -28.7% |
| 1972 | 1.30 billion US dollar | +69.8% |
| 1973 | 1.36 billion US dollar | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 1.22 billion US dollar | -10.6% |
| 1975 | 1.28 billion US dollar | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 1.03 billion US dollar | -19.5% |
| 1977 | 940.70 million US dollar | -8.4% |
| 1978 | 2.64 billion US dollar | +180.6% |
| 1979 | 5.25 billion US dollar | +98.7% |
| 1980 | 7.63 billion US dollar | +45.5% |
| 1981 | 4.33 billion US dollar | -43.3% |
| 1982 | 4.02 billion US dollar | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 4.00 billion US dollar | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 2.64 billion US dollar | -34.0% |
| 1985 | 2.29 billion US dollar | -13.0% |
| 1986 | 2.51 billion US dollar | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 3.92 billion US dollar | +55.8% |
| 1988 | 2.65 billion US dollar | -32.3% |
| 1989 | 2.61 billion US dollar | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 2.67 billion US dollar | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 3.60 billion US dollar | +34.8% |
| 1992 | 3.82 billion US dollar | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 3.47 billion US dollar | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 4.01 billion US dollar | +15.6% |
| 1995 | 4.98 billion US dollar | +24.2% |
| 1996 | 2.20 billion US dollar | -55.8% |
| 1997 | 5.85 billion US dollar | +165.6% |
| 1998 | 5.39 billion US dollar | -7.8% |
| 1999 | 7.37 billion US dollar | +36.8% |
| 2000 | 7.53 billion US dollar | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 7.47 billion US dollar | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 7.64 billion US dollar | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 7.97 billion US dollar | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 14.72 billion US dollar | +84.7% |
| 2005 | 20.63 billion US dollar | +40.2% |
| 2006 | 25.58 billion US dollar | +24.0% |
| 2007 | 32.94 billion US dollar | +28.7% |
| 2008 | 34.07 billion US dollar | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 39.66 billion US dollar | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 43.82 billion US dollar | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 48.85 billion US dollar | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 50.69 billion US dollar | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 49.59 billion US dollar | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 49.09 billion US dollar | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 45.92 billion US dollar | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 47.34 billion US dollar | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 50.73 billion US dollar | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 51.63 billion US dollar | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 55.05 billion US dollar | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 54.99 billion US dollar | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 57.55 billion US dollar | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 60.55 billion US dollar | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 62.50 billion US dollar | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 65.44 billion US dollar | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 75.87 billion US dollar | +15.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 378.60 million US dollar | 325.09 million US dollar | 444.60 million US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 778.61 million US dollar | 260.40 million US dollar | 1.49 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.69 billion US dollar | 765.76 million US dollar | 5.25 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.66 billion US dollar | 2.29 billion US dollar | 7.63 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.34 billion US dollar | 2.20 billion US dollar | 7.37 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.82 billion US dollar | 7.47 billion US dollar | 39.66 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.27 billion US dollar | 43.82 billion US dollar | 55.05 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.82 billion US dollar | 54.99 billion US dollar | 75.87 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per capita 95,301 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP 14.44 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), annual growth rate 11.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gold reserves at 35 SDRs per ounce 141.22 million SDR (2025)
- Gold reserves at market value 12.87 billion SDR (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange 37.46 billion SDR (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold 42.64 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) 55.51 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) 55.42 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 855.88 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserve assets in South Africa?
- Reserve assets in South Africa was 75.87 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserve assets recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 75.87 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest reserve assets recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 260.40 million US dollar in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserve assets rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.2%. 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 Reserve assets (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.