Reserve assets, Monetary gold in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets, Monetary gold was 17.49 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
17.49 billion US dollar
Change on year
up 65.9%
World rank
25th
of 151 countries
All-time high
17.49 billion US dollar
in 2025
All-time low
177.80 million US dollar
in 1960
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Reserve assets, Monetary gold in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reserve assets, monetary gold in South Africa is 17.49 billion US dollar, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
The figure is up 65.9% on the previous year and up 307.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets, monetary gold in South Africa peaked at 17.49 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 177.80 million US dollar, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 25th of 151 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserve assets, Monetary gold in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 222.50 million US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 217.19 million US dollar | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 211.31 million US dollar | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 237.68 million US dollar | +12.5% |
| 1960 | 177.80 million US dollar | -25.2% |
| 1961 | 300.00 million US dollar | +68.7% |
| 1962 | 498.18 million US dollar | +66.1% |
| 1963 | 628.31 million US dollar | +26.1% |
| 1964 | 571.18 million US dollar | -9.1% |
| 1965 | 424.12 million US dollar | -25.7% |
| 1966 | 633.93 million US dollar | +49.5% |
| 1967 | 583.13 million US dollar | -8.0% |
| 1968 | 1.23 billion US dollar | +111.6% |
| 1969 | 1.11 billion US dollar | -9.8% |
| 1970 | 663.66 million US dollar | -40.4% |
| 1971 | 436.45 million US dollar | -34.2% |
| 1972 | 680.81 million US dollar | +56.0% |
| 1973 | 841.82 million US dollar | +23.7% |
| 1974 | 787.38 million US dollar | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 607.20 million US dollar | -22.9% |
| 1976 | 434.70 million US dollar | -28.4% |
| 1977 | 332.35 million US dollar | -23.5% |
| 1978 | 1.93 billion US dollar | +481.0% |
| 1979 | 4.45 billion US dollar | +130.5% |
| 1980 | 6.51 billion US dollar | +46.3% |
| 1981 | 3.34 billion US dollar | -48.7% |
| 1982 | 3.07 billion US dollar | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 2.66 billion US dollar | -13.5% |
| 1984 | 2.04 billion US dollar | -23.3% |
| 1985 | 1.42 billion US dollar | -30.3% |
| 1986 | 1.70 billion US dollar | +19.6% |
| 1987 | 2.54 billion US dollar | +49.6% |
| 1988 | 1.29 billion US dollar | -49.0% |
| 1989 | 1.14 billion US dollar | -12.2% |
| 1990 | 1.42 billion US dollar | +24.5% |
| 1991 | 2.07 billion US dollar | +46.6% |
| 1992 | 1.99 billion US dollar | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 1.66 billion US dollar | -16.8% |
| 1994 | 1.44 billion US dollar | -12.9% |
| 1995 | 1.48 billion US dollar | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.26 billion US dollar | -14.9% |
| 1997 | 1.05 billion US dollar | -16.8% |
| 1998 | 1.03 billion US dollar | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.02 billion US dollar | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 1.45 billion US dollar | +42.3% |
| 2001 | 1.43 billion US dollar | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 1.73 billion US dollar | +21.6% |
| 2003 | 1.48 billion US dollar | -14.9% |
| 2004 | 1.58 billion US dollar | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 2.05 billion US dollar | +29.9% |
| 2006 | 2.53 billion US dollar | +23.4% |
| 2007 | 3.35 billion US dollar | +32.6% |
| 2008 | 3.48 billion US dollar | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 4.44 billion US dollar | +27.4% |
| 2010 | 5.65 billion US dollar | +27.4% |
| 2011 | 6.27 billion US dollar | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 6.70 billion US dollar | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 4.83 billion US dollar | -28.0% |
| 2014 | 4.83 billion US dollar | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4.29 billion US dollar | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 4.66 billion US dollar | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 5.22 billion US dollar | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 5.17 billion US dollar | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 6.14 billion US dollar | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 7.62 billion US dollar | +24.2% |
| 2021 | 7.32 billion US dollar | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 7.32 billion US dollar | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 8.34 billion US dollar | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 10.54 billion US dollar | +26.5% |
| 2025 | 17.49 billion US dollar | +65.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 222.17 million US dollar | 211.31 million US dollar | 237.68 million US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 616.42 million US dollar | 177.80 million US dollar | 1.23 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.12 billion US dollar | 332.35 million US dollar | 4.45 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.57 billion US dollar | 1.14 billion US dollar | 6.51 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.44 billion US dollar | 1.02 billion US dollar | 2.07 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.35 billion US dollar | 1.43 billion US dollar | 4.44 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.38 billion US dollar | 4.29 billion US dollar | 6.70 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.77 billion US dollar | 7.32 billion US dollar | 17.49 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), annual growth rate 10.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 855.88 SDR per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserve assets, monetary gold in South Africa?
- Reserve assets, monetary gold in South Africa was 17.49 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserve assets, monetary gold recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.49 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest reserve assets, monetary gold recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 177.80 million US dollar in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets, monetary gold?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 151 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserve assets, monetary gold rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 307.6%. 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, Monetary gold (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.