Reserve assets, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) was 51.29 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
51.29 billion US dollar
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
32nd
of 168 countries
All-time high
51.29 billion US dollar
in 2025
All-time low
82.60 million US dollar
in 1960
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Reserve assets, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa is 51.29 billion US dollar, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and up 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa peaked at 51.29 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 82.60 million US dollar, in 1960.
That places South Africa 32nd out of 168 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, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 184.95 million US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 107.90 million US dollar | -41.7% |
| 1958 | 125.94 million US dollar | +16.7% |
| 1959 | 206.92 million US dollar | +64.3% |
| 1960 | 82.60 million US dollar | -60.1% |
| 1961 | 109.35 million US dollar | +32.4% |
| 1962 | 193.11 million US dollar | +76.6% |
| 1963 | 173.13 million US dollar | -10.3% |
| 1964 | 108.66 million US dollar | -37.2% |
| 1965 | 188.97 million US dollar | +73.9% |
| 1966 | 133.75 million US dollar | -29.2% |
| 1967 | 154.19 million US dollar | +15.3% |
| 1968 | 251.54 million US dollar | +63.1% |
| 1969 | 226.60 million US dollar | -9.9% |
| 1970 | 370.87 million US dollar | +63.7% |
| 1971 | 329.30 million US dollar | -11.2% |
| 1972 | 577.34 million US dollar | +75.3% |
| 1973 | 521.48 million US dollar | -9.7% |
| 1974 | 382.81 million US dollar | -26.6% |
| 1975 | 625.60 million US dollar | +63.4% |
| 1976 | 552.00 million US dollar | -11.8% |
| 1977 | 569.25 million US dollar | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 656.65 million US dollar | +15.4% |
| 1979 | 760.71 million US dollar | +15.8% |
| 1980 | 894.85 million US dollar | +17.6% |
| 1981 | 741.19 million US dollar | -17.2% |
| 1982 | 838.98 million US dollar | +13.2% |
| 1983 | 1.24 billion US dollar | +47.4% |
| 1984 | 548.64 million US dollar | -55.6% |
| 1985 | 868.41 million US dollar | +58.3% |
| 1986 | 815.24 million US dollar | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 1.37 billion US dollar | +68.6% |
| 1988 | 1.36 billion US dollar | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.47 billion US dollar | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 1.26 billion US dollar | -14.8% |
| 1991 | 1.53 billion US dollar | +21.6% |
| 1992 | 1.83 billion US dollar | +19.5% |
| 1993 | 1.80 billion US dollar | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 2.56 billion US dollar | +42.6% |
| 1995 | 3.49 billion US dollar | +36.2% |
| 1996 | 938.82 million US dollar | -73.1% |
| 1997 | 4.79 billion US dollar | +410.0% |
| 1998 | 4.17 billion US dollar | -12.9% |
| 1999 | 6.06 billion US dollar | +45.4% |
| 2000 | 5.79 billion US dollar | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 5.76 billion US dollar | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 5.60 billion US dollar | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 6.16 billion US dollar | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 12.79 billion US dollar | +107.6% |
| 2005 | 18.26 billion US dollar | +42.7% |
| 2006 | 22.72 billion US dollar | +24.4% |
| 2007 | 29.23 billion US dollar | +28.7% |
| 2008 | 30.24 billion US dollar | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 32.43 billion US dollar | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 35.42 billion US dollar | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 39.85 billion US dollar | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 41.18 billion US dollar | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 41.94 billion US dollar | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 41.49 billion US dollar | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 38.94 billion US dollar | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 39.91 billion US dollar | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 42.74 billion US dollar | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 43.54 billion US dollar | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 45.90 billion US dollar | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 44.25 billion US dollar | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 43.12 billion US dollar | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 46.47 billion US dollar | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 47.39 billion US dollar | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 48.25 billion US dollar | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 51.29 billion US dollar | +6.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 51.29 billion US dollar is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.47 billion US dollar, 7.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 51.29 billion US dollar is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.52 billion US dollar, 33.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserve assets, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +410.0% | 938.82 million US dollar | 4.79 billion US dollar |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 156.43 million US dollar | 107.90 million US dollar | 206.92 million US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 162.19 million US dollar | 82.60 million US dollar | 251.54 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 534.60 million US dollar | 329.30 million US dollar | 760.71 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.01 billion US dollar | 548.64 million US dollar | 1.47 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.84 billion US dollar | 938.82 million US dollar | 6.06 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.90 billion US dollar | 5.60 billion US dollar | 32.43 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.09 billion US dollar | 35.42 billion US dollar | 45.90 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.80 billion US dollar | 43.12 billion US dollar | 51.29 billion US dollar | 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 reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa?
- Reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) in South Africa was 51.29 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.29 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.60 million US dollar in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities)?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserve assets, other reserve (currency, deposits, securities) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. 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, Other reserve (currency, deposits, securities, financial derivatives and other claims) (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.