Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6.20 billion US dollar
Change on year
up 6.9%
World rank
27th
of 164 countries
All-time high
6.20 billion US dollar
in 2025
All-time low
0 US dollar
in 1956
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.20 billion US dollar for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 150.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf in South Africa peaked at 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 US dollar, in 1956.
South Africa ranks 27th of 164 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, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1958 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1959 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1960 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1961 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1962 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1963 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1964 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1965 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1966 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1967 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1968 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1969 | 0 US dollar | — |
| 1970 | 39.11 million US dollar | — |
| 1971 | 521,144 US dollar | -98.7% |
| 1972 | 41.50 million US dollar | +7862.5% |
| 1973 | 1.73 million US dollar | -95.8% |
| 1974 | 48.44 million US dollar | +2707.7% |
| 1975 | 50.83 million US dollar | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 48.23 million US dollar | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 48.03 million US dollar | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 51.16 million US dollar | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 33.46 million US dollar | -34.6% |
| 1980 | 47.28 million US dollar | +41.3% |
| 1981 | 134.41 million US dollar | +184.3% |
| 1982 | 109.28 million US dollar | -18.7% |
| 1983 | 28.57 million US dollar | -73.9% |
| 1984 | 2.28 million US dollar | -92.0% |
| 1985 | 560,193 US dollar | -75.5% |
| 1986 | 12,232 US dollar | -97.8% |
| 1987 | 1.63 million US dollar | +13237.6% |
| 1988 | 1.08 million US dollar | -34.0% |
| 1989 | 1.72 million US dollar | +59.9% |
| 1990 | 2.28 million US dollar | +32.2% |
| 1991 | 1.70 million US dollar | -25.2% |
| 1992 | 96,250 US dollar | -94.3% |
| 1993 | 12.06 million US dollar | +12434.0% |
| 1994 | 1.24 million US dollar | -89.7% |
| 1995 | 4.89 million US dollar | +294.2% |
| 1996 | 1.17 million US dollar | -76.0% |
| 1997 | 9.19 million US dollar | +682.4% |
| 1998 | 185.39 million US dollar | +1917.5% |
| 1999 | 287.68 million US dollar | +55.2% |
| 2000 | 289.76 million US dollar | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 279.70 million US dollar | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 302.86 million US dollar | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 331.07 million US dollar | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 346.04 million US dollar | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 318.54 million US dollar | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 335.40 million US dollar | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 352.46 million US dollar | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 343.64 million US dollar | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 2.80 billion US dollar | +715.8% |
| 2010 | 2.75 billion US dollar | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 2.75 billion US dollar | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 2.75 billion US dollar | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 2.75 billion US dollar | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 2.59 billion US dollar | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2.48 billion US dollar | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 2.01 billion US dollar | -19.0% |
| 2017 | 2.13 billion US dollar | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 2.08 billion US dollar | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.07 billion US dollar | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.16 billion US dollar | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 6.19 billion US dollar | +187.0% |
| 2022 | 5.89 billion US dollar | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 5.90 billion US dollar | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.80 billion US dollar | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 6.20 billion US dollar | +6.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.20 billion US dollar is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.82 million US dollar, 62.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.20 billion US dollar is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 225.32 million US dollar, 27.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +13237.6% | 12,232 US dollar | 1.63 million US dollar |
| 1993 | +12434.0% | 96,250 US dollar | 12.06 million US dollar |
| 1972 | +7862.5% | 521,144 US dollar | 41.50 million US dollar |
| 1974 | +2707.7% | 1.73 million US dollar | 48.44 million US dollar |
| 1998 | +1917.5% | 9.19 million US dollar | 185.39 million US dollar |
| 2009 | +715.8% | 343.64 million US dollar | 2.80 billion US dollar |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 US dollar | 0 US dollar | 0 US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 0 US dollar | 0 US dollar | 0 US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.30 million US dollar | 521,144 US dollar | 51.16 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.68 million US dollar | 12,232 US dollar | 134.41 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.57 million US dollar | 96,250 US dollar | 287.68 million US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 570.27 million US dollar | 279.70 million US dollar | 2.80 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.43 billion US dollar | 2.01 billion US dollar | 2.75 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.36 billion US dollar | 2.16 billion US dollar | 6.20 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, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf in South Africa?
- Reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf in South Africa was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 US dollar in 1956.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs), adjusted using imf rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.2%. 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, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Adjusted using IMF accounting records (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.