Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 1.78 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Ethiopia, 1977–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in months of imports in Ethiopia stood at 1.78.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 70.8% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Ethiopia peaked at 7.09 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.4911, in 1990.
Ethiopia ranks 146th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 5.43 | — |
| 1978 | 4.35 | -19.9% |
| 1979 | 5.39 | +23.9% |
| 1980 | 3.61 | -33.0% |
| 1981 | 5.23 | +44.7% |
| 1982 | 3.64 | -30.4% |
| 1983 | 2.49 | -31.7% |
| 1984 | 1.2 | -51.7% |
| 1985 | 2.26 | +88.1% |
| 1986 | 3.15 | +39.7% |
| 1987 | 2.07 | -34.4% |
| 1988 | 1.32 | -36.0% |
| 1989 | 1.2 | -9.1% |
| 1990 | 0.4911 | -59.2% |
| 1991 | 1.5 | +205.3% |
| 1992 | 2.21 | +47.5% |
| 1993 | 5.54 | +150.4% |
| 1994 | 5.38 | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 6.38 | +18.6% |
| 1996 | 7.09 | +11.1% |
| 1997 | 4.83 | -31.8% |
| 1998 | 3.82 | -20.9% |
| 1999 | 3.45 | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 2.6 | -24.5% |
| 2001 | 2.68 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 5.6 | +109.1% |
| 2003 | 4.33 | -22.6% |
| 2004 | 4.74 | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 2.53 | -46.6% |
| 2006 | 1.96 | -22.6% |
| 2007 | 2.23 | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 1.08 | -51.4% |
| 2009 | 2.35 | +116.9% |
| 2010 | 2.69 | +14.5% |
| 2011 | 2.87 | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 1.94 | -32.4% |
| 2013 | 1.97 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 2.3 | +16.7% |
| 2015 | 2.28 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 1.78 | -21.9% |
| 2017 | 1.84 | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 2.35 | +27.6% |
| 2019 | 1.81 | -23.3% |
| 2020 | 2.05 | +13.5% |
| 2021 | 0.9215 | -55.0% |
| 2022 | 0.5786 | -37.2% |
| 2023 | 1.04 | +80.2% |
| 2024 | 1.78 | +70.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 1.78 is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.02, 88% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 1.78 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.67, 49% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.06 | 4.35 | 5.43 | 3 |
| 1980s | 2.62 | 1.2 | 5.23 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.07 | 0.4911 | 7.09 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.01 | 1.08 | 5.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.18 | 1.78 | 2.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.27 | 0.5786 | 2.05 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 143 Kosovo 1.82 compare
- 143 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 1.82 compare
- 145 Austria 1.8 compare
- 147 Sierra Leone 1.75 compare
- 148 Panama 1.74 compare
- 149 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.69 compare
More financial sector data for Ethiopia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0759 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0554 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0759 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Ethiopia?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Ethiopia was 1.78 in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.09 in 1996.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4911 in 1990.
- How does Ethiopia rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Ethiopia ranks 146th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].