Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate was 9.76 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.76 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 52.9%
World rank
71st
of 177 countries
All-time high
142.71 % change on previous year
in 1972
All-time low
-50.77 % change on previous year
in 1981
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 9.76 % change on previous year for total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 52.9% on the previous year and up 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 142.71 % change on previous year in 1972 and was at its lowest, -50.77 % change on previous year, in 1981.
South Africa ranks 71st of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 53.33 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 62.54 % change on previous year | +17.3% |
| 1963 | 0.2409 % change on previous year | -99.6% |
| 1964 | -24.49 % change on previous year | -10266.2% |
| 1965 | -25.38 % change on previous year | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 44.42 % change on previous year | -275.0% |
| 1967 | -18.87 % change on previous year | -142.5% |
| 1968 | 116.89 % change on previous year | -719.5% |
| 1969 | -28.36 % change on previous year | -124.3% |
| 1970 | -36.43 % change on previous year | +28.4% |
| 1971 | -34.22 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1972 | 142.71 % change on previous year | -517.0% |
| 1973 | 5.26 % change on previous year | -96.3% |
| 1974 | -2.47 % change on previous year | -147.1% |
| 1975 | -29.28 % change on previous year | +1083.2% |
| 1976 | -22.88 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 1977 | -3.72 % change on previous year | -83.7% |
| 1978 | 11.53 % change on previous year | -410.0% |
| 1979 | 70.15 % change on previous year | +508.3% |
| 1980 | -5.68 % change on previous year | -108.1% |
| 1981 | -50.77 % change on previous year | +794.2% |
| 1982 | 9.85 % change on previous year | -119.4% |
| 1983 | 6.55 % change on previous year | -33.5% |
| 1984 | -33.75 % change on previous year | -615.2% |
| 1985 | -0.8835 % change on previous year | -97.4% |
| 1986 | 7.31 % change on previous year | -927.0% |
| 1987 | 28.38 % change on previous year | +288.5% |
| 1988 | -44.66 % change on previous year | -257.4% |
| 1989 | 0.2501 % change on previous year | -100.6% |
| 1990 | 13.74 % change on previous year | +5395.8% |
| 1991 | 27.59 % change on previous year | +100.8% |
| 1992 | -4.63 % change on previous year | -116.8% |
| 1993 | -10.47 % change on previous year | +126.2% |
| 1994 | 0.1398 % change on previous year | -101.3% |
| 1995 | 9.92 % change on previous year | +6995.0% |
| 1996 | -47.71 % change on previous year | -580.9% |
| 1997 | 141.8 % change on previous year | -397.2% |
| 1998 | -2.77 % change on previous year | -101.9% |
| 1999 | 44.75 % change on previous year | -1718.3% |
| 2000 | -6.5 % change on previous year | -114.5% |
| 2001 | 2.91 % change on previous year | -144.7% |
| 2002 | 1.98 % change on previous year | -31.9% |
| 2003 | -22.95 % change on previous year | -1260.2% |
| 2004 | 39.52 % change on previous year | -272.2% |
| 2005 | 17.54 % change on previous year | -55.6% |
| 2006 | 2.41 % change on previous year | -86.3% |
| 2007 | 7 % change on previous year | +190.7% |
| 2008 | -3.92 % change on previous year | -156.0% |
| 2009 | 54.04 % change on previous year | -1477.5% |
| 2010 | -11.43 % change on previous year | -121.2% |
| 2011 | -7.68 % change on previous year | -32.8% |
| 2012 | 3.34 % change on previous year | -143.5% |
| 2013 | -0.6252 % change on previous year | -118.7% |
| 2014 | 2.8 % change on previous year | -547.9% |
| 2015 | 6.76 % change on previous year | +141.4% |
| 2016 | 15.09 % change on previous year | +123.3% |
| 2017 | -3.89 % change on previous year | -125.8% |
| 2018 | -7.9 % change on previous year | +103.1% |
| 2019 | 12.35 % change on previous year | -256.3% |
| 2020 | 31.75 % change on previous year | +157.0% |
| 2021 | -21.91 % change on previous year | -169.0% |
| 2022 | -11.67 % change on previous year | -46.7% |
| 2023 | 8.48 % change on previous year | -172.7% |
| 2024 | 6.38 % change on previous year | -24.8% |
| 2025 | 9.76 % change on previous year | +52.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.76 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.19 % change on previous year, 1.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.76 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.3 % change on previous year, 1.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | -10266.2% | 0.2409 % change on previous year | -24.49 % change on previous year |
| 1995 | +6995.0% | 0.1398 % change on previous year | 9.92 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | +5395.8% | 0.2501 % change on previous year | 13.74 % change on previous year |
| 1999 | +1718.3% | -2.77 % change on previous year | 44.75 % change on previous year |
| 2009 | +1477.5% | -3.92 % change on previous year | 54.04 % change on previous year |
| 2003 | -1260.2% | 1.98 % change on previous year | -22.95 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.04 % change on previous year | -28.36 % change on previous year | 116.89 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.07 % change on previous year | -36.43 % change on previous year | 142.71 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -8.34 % change on previous year | -50.77 % change on previous year | 28.38 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.24 % change on previous year | -47.71 % change on previous year | 141.8 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.2 % change on previous year | -22.95 % change on previous year | 54.04 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8804 % change on previous year | -11.43 % change on previous year | 15.09 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8 % change on previous year | -21.91 % change on previous year | 31.75 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 68 Iceland 10.27 % change on previous year compare
- 69 Costa Rica 10.13 % change on previous year compare
- 70 Czechia 9.79 % change on previous year compare
- 72 Belize 9.58 % change on previous year compare
- 73 Poland 9.36 % change on previous year compare
- 74 Latvia 9.15 % change on previous year 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 total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate in South Africa was 9.76 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 142.71 % change on previous year in 1972.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -50.77 % change on previous year in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 177 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. 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 Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Total reserves in months of imports. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Total reserves in months of imports International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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
The year-on-year percentage change in Total reserves in months of imports. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.