Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US) in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US) was 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US) in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in US dollar per square kilometre.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) in 2023.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 114.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) in South Africa peaked at 5,102 US dollar per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.9305 US dollar per square kilometre, in 1994.
That places South Africa 77th out of 158 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 32.18 US dollar per square kilometre | — |
| 1972 | 34.75 US dollar per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 1.23 US dollar per square kilometre | -96.5% |
| 1974 | 40.64 US dollar per square kilometre | +3208.9% |
| 1975 | 35.08 US dollar per square kilometre | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 33.18 US dollar per square kilometre | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 32.23 US dollar per square kilometre | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 42.66 US dollar per square kilometre | +32.4% |
| 1979 | 27.91 US dollar per square kilometre | -34.6% |
| 1980 | 38.71 US dollar per square kilometre | +38.7% |
| 1981 | 111.17 US dollar per square kilometre | +187.2% |
| 1982 | 90.38 US dollar per square kilometre | -18.7% |
| 1983 | 26.99 US dollar per square kilometre | -70.1% |
| 1984 | 2.08 US dollar per square kilometre | -92.3% |
| 1985 | 4.19 US dollar per square kilometre | +101.8% |
| 1987 | 1.28 US dollar per square kilometre | -69.4% |
| 1988 | 1.04 US dollar per square kilometre | -18.8% |
| 1989 | 1.3 US dollar per square kilometre | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 1.93 US dollar per square kilometre | +48.4% |
| 1991 | 1.5 US dollar per square kilometre | -22.2% |
| 1993 | 9.95 US dollar per square kilometre | +562.0% |
| 1994 | 0.9305 US dollar per square kilometre | -90.6% |
| 1995 | 4.07 US dollar per square kilometre | +337.2% |
| 1996 | 1.06 US dollar per square kilometre | -74.0% |
| 1997 | 7.62 US dollar per square kilometre | +621.5% |
| 1998 | 152.91 US dollar per square kilometre | +1906.4% |
| 1999 | 237.21 US dollar per square kilometre | +55.1% |
| 2000 | 238.75 US dollar per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 230.38 US dollar per square kilometre | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 248.73 US dollar per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 271.88 US dollar per square kilometre | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 284.2 US dollar per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 262.62 US dollar per square kilometre | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 276.28 US dollar per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 290.15 US dollar per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 284.64 US dollar per square kilometre | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 2,302 US dollar per square kilometre | +708.9% |
| 2010 | 2,270 US dollar per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 2,256 US dollar per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 2,315 US dollar per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2,270 US dollar per square kilometre | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 2,135 US dollar per square kilometre | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2,043 US dollar per square kilometre | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 1,749 US dollar per square kilometre | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 1,755 US dollar per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 1,714 US dollar per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 1,706 US dollar per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 1,778 US dollar per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 5,102 US dollar per square kilometre | +187.0% |
| 2022 | 4,854 US dollar per square kilometre | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,105 US dollar per square kilometre, 80% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 606.18 US dollar per square kilometre, 8.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +3208.9% | 1.23 US dollar per square kilometre | 40.64 US dollar per square kilometre |
| 1998 | +1906.4% | 7.62 US dollar per square kilometre | 152.91 US dollar per square kilometre |
| 2009 | +708.9% | 284.64 US dollar per square kilometre | 2,302 US dollar per square kilometre |
| 1997 | +621.5% | 1.06 US dollar per square kilometre | 7.62 US dollar per square kilometre |
| 1993 | +562.0% | 1.5 US dollar per square kilometre | 9.95 US dollar per square kilometre |
| 1995 | +337.2% | 0.9305 US dollar per square kilometre | 4.07 US dollar per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31.1 US dollar per square kilometre | 1.23 US dollar per square kilometre | 42.66 US dollar per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1980s | 30.79 US dollar per square kilometre | 1.04 US dollar per square kilometre | 111.17 US dollar per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1990s | 46.35 US dollar per square kilometre | 0.9305 US dollar per square kilometre | 237.21 US dollar per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2000s | 469.01 US dollar per square kilometre | 230.38 US dollar per square kilometre | 2,302 US dollar per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,021 US dollar per square kilometre | 1,706 US dollar per square kilometre | 2,315 US dollar per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,149 US dollar per square kilometre | 1,778 US dollar per square kilometre | 5,102 US dollar per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 74 China 5,709 US dollar per square kilometre compare
- 75 Iceland 5,700 US dollar per square kilometre compare
- 76 Sierra Leone 5,105 US dollar per square kilometre compare
- 78 Uruguay 4,842 US dollar per square kilometre compare
- 79 Nigeria 4,819 US dollar per square kilometre compare
- 80 Chile 4,513 US dollar per square kilometre compare
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) (assets, positions, us) in South Africa?
- Reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) in South Africa was 4,863 US dollar per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,102 US dollar per square kilometre in 2021.
- What is the lowest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9305 US dollar per square kilometre in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us)?
- South Africa ranks 77th out of 158 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) (assets, positions, us) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 114.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US dollar), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US dollar) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US dollar) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) International Monetary Fund
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US dollar) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.