Total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa
South Africa: Total reserves (gold at market value) was 55.51 billion SDR in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
55.51 billion SDR
Change on year
up 10.6%
World rank
37th
of 188 countries
All-time high
55.51 billion SDR
in 2025
All-time low
272.20 million SDR
in 1960
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in SDR.
Analysis
In 2025, total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa stood at 55.51 billion SDR. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.6% on the previous year and up 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa peaked at 55.51 billion SDR in 2025 and was at its lowest, 272.20 million SDR, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 37th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | SDR | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 456.08 million SDR | — |
| 1951 | 410.48 million SDR | -10.0% |
| 1952 | 404.69 million SDR | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 318.95 million SDR | -21.2% |
| 1954 | 441.39 million SDR | +38.4% |
| 1955 | 390.93 million SDR | -11.4% |
| 1956 | 396.43 million SDR | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 313.66 million SDR | -20.9% |
| 1958 | 316.88 million SDR | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 469.33 million SDR | +48.1% |
| 1960 | 272.20 million SDR | -42.0% |
| 1961 | 394.84 million SDR | +45.1% |
| 1962 | 647.25 million SDR | +63.9% |
| 1963 | 774.94 million SDR | +19.7% |
| 1964 | 706.83 million SDR | -8.8% |
| 1965 | 600.87 million SDR | -15.0% |
| 1966 | 834.48 million SDR | +38.9% |
| 1967 | 781.75 million SDR | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 1.72 billion SDR | +119.5% |
| 1969 | 1.40 billion SDR | -18.1% |
| 1970 | 1.06 billion SDR | -24.8% |
| 1971 | 715.92 million SDR | -32.2% |
| 1972 | 1.63 billion SDR | +128.0% |
| 1973 | 2.14 billion SDR | +31.0% |
| 1974 | 3.09 billion SDR | +44.4% |
| 1975 | 2.54 billion SDR | -17.6% |
| 1976 | 1.84 billion SDR | -27.9% |
| 1977 | 1.66 billion SDR | -9.4% |
| 1978 | 2.02 billion SDR | +21.7% |
| 1979 | 4.23 billion SDR | +109.0% |
| 1980 | 6.18 billion SDR | +46.3% |
| 1981 | 3.74 billion SDR | -39.4% |
| 1982 | 3.58 billion SDR | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 3.62 billion SDR | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 2.56 billion SDR | -29.3% |
| 1985 | 1.73 billion SDR | -32.6% |
| 1986 | 1.84 billion SDR | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 2.44 billion SDR | +32.5% |
| 1988 | 1.64 billion SDR | -32.9% |
| 1989 | 1.67 billion SDR | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 1.82 billion SDR | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 2.23 billion SDR | +22.7% |
| 1992 | 2.33 billion SDR | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 2.10 billion SDR | -10.1% |
| 1994 | 2.26 billion SDR | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 3.00 billion SDR | +33.0% |
| 1996 | 1.63 billion SDR | -45.8% |
| 1997 | 4.42 billion SDR | +171.2% |
| 1998 | 3.91 billion SDR | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 5.46 billion SDR | +39.6% |
| 2000 | 5.91 billion SDR | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 6.07 billion SDR | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 5.75 billion SDR | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 5.49 billion SDR | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 9.59 billion SDR | +74.7% |
| 2005 | 14.43 billion SDR | +50.5% |
| 2006 | 17.01 billion SDR | +17.9% |
| 2007 | 20.83 billion SDR | +22.5% |
| 2008 | 22.12 billion SDR | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 25.26 billion SDR | +14.2% |
| 2010 | 28.45 billion SDR | +12.6% |
| 2011 | 31.75 billion SDR | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 32.98 billion SDR | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 32.28 billion SDR | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 33.90 billion SDR | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 33.11 billion SDR | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 35.10 billion SDR | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 35.62 billion SDR | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 37.13 billion SDR | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 39.81 billion SDR | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 38.19 billion SDR | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 41.15 billion SDR | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 45.50 billion SDR | +10.6% |
| 2023 | 46.58 billion SDR | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 50.17 billion SDR | +7.7% |
| 2025 | 55.51 billion SDR | +10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 391.88 million SDR | 313.66 million SDR | 469.33 million SDR | 10 |
| 1960s | 813.38 million SDR | 272.20 million SDR | 1.72 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.09 billion SDR | 715.92 million SDR | 4.23 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.90 billion SDR | 1.64 billion SDR | 6.18 billion SDR | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.91 billion SDR | 1.63 billion SDR | 5.46 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.25 billion SDR | 5.49 billion SDR | 25.26 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.01 billion SDR | 28.45 billion SDR | 39.81 billion SDR | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.19 billion SDR | 38.19 billion SDR | 55.51 billion SDR | 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 total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa?
- Total reserves (gold at market value) in South Africa was 55.51 billion SDR in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest total reserves (gold at market value) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.51 billion SDR in 2025.
- What is the lowest total reserves (gold at market value) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 272.20 million SDR in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for total reserves (gold at market value)?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves (gold at market value) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.6%. 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 Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International Liquidity (IL) 2026 April