Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 7.12 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 7.12 for total reserves in months of imports in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 75.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Nigeria peaked at 19.21 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.01, in 1983.
That places Nigeria 40th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 3.69 | — |
| 1978 | 1.61 | -56.2% |
| 1979 | 4.43 | +174.9% |
| 1980 | 5.8 | +30.8% |
| 1981 | 1.97 | -66.0% |
| 1982 | 1.17 | -40.6% |
| 1983 | 1.01 | -13.4% |
| 1984 | 1.69 | +66.4% |
| 1985 | 2.13 | +26.2% |
| 1986 | 3.21 | +50.6% |
| 1987 | 2.28 | -29.0% |
| 1988 | 1.48 | -35.1% |
| 1989 | 3.22 | +117.4% |
| 1990 | 5.03 | +56.2% |
| 1991 | 4.35 | -13.4% |
| 1992 | 1.25 | -71.3% |
| 1993 | 1.55 | +23.8% |
| 1994 | 1.58 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 4.17 | +163.2% |
| 1996 | 11.51 | +176.3% |
| 1997 | 17.38 | +50.9% |
| 1998 | 19.21 | +10.6% |
| 1999 | 4.56 | -76.3% |
| 2000 | 7.88 | +72.9% |
| 2001 | 6.82 | -13.4% |
| 2002 | 4.87 | -28.6% |
| 2003 | 3.53 | -27.4% |
| 2004 | 8.75 | +147.7% |
| 2005 | 9.6 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 12.1 | +26.0% |
| 2007 | 10.22 | -15.5% |
| 2008 | 7.88 | -22.9% |
| 2009 | 7.98 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 4.38 | -45.2% |
| 2011 | 3.53 | -19.3% |
| 2012 | 5.19 | +47.0% |
| 2013 | 5.09 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 3.92 | -22.8% |
| 2015 | 4.07 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 6.17 | +51.7% |
| 2017 | 8 | +29.6% |
| 2018 | 6.05 | -24.3% |
| 2019 | 4.21 | -30.5% |
| 2020 | 5.8 | +37.9% |
| 2021 | 6.42 | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 4.82 | -24.9% |
| 2023 | 5.12 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 7.21 | +40.8% |
| 2025 | 7.12 | -1.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 7.12 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.09, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 7.12 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.67, 1.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.24 | 1.61 | 4.43 | 3 |
| 1980s | 2.4 | 1.01 | 5.8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.06 | 1.25 | 19.21 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.96 | 3.53 | 12.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.06 | 3.53 | 8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.08 | 4.82 | 7.21 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More financial sector data for Nigeria
- 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 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.01 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 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.7387 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 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.01 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 Nigeria?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Nigeria was 7.12 in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 19.21 in 1998.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.01 in 1983.
- How does Nigeria rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Nigeria ranks 40th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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)].