Total reserves includes gold in South Africa
South Africa: Total reserves includes gold was 11.9% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves includes gold in South Africa, 1960–2011
Source: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2011, total reserves includes gold in South Africa stood at 11.9%.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 85.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves includes gold in South Africa peaked at 14.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1996.
That places South Africa 39th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves includes gold in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.7% | — |
| 1961 | 5.1% | +37.9% |
| 1962 | 7.8% | +53.5% |
| 1963 | 8.4% | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 7.0% | -16.9% |
| 1965 | 5.5% | -22.2% |
| 1966 | 7.0% | +27.4% |
| 1967 | 5.8% | -16.0% |
| 1968 | 11.9% | +102.9% |
| 1969 | 8.6% | -27.4% |
| 1970 | 5.9% | -31.5% |
| 1971 | 3.9% | -33.4% |
| 1972 | 8.5% | +117.2% |
| 1973 | 9.1% | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 10.6% | +16.6% |
| 1975 | 8.1% | -23.8% |
| 1976 | 6.0% | -25.4% |
| 1977 | 5.1% | -14.7% |
| 1978 | 5.8% | +13.5% |
| 1979 | 10.0% | +71.2% |
| 1980 | 9.8% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | -48.7% |
| 1982 | 4.9% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 4.4% | -10.4% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | -33.2% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | +17.4% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | -42.3% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | +31.2% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | +14.9% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +21.7% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -44.9% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | +145.8% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | +37.2% |
| 2000 | 5.8% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | -31.1% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | +40.2% |
| 2005 | 8.3% | +22.9% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 11.5% | +17.3% |
| 2008 | 12.4% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | +12.5% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.1% | 3.7% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.3% | 3.9% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.0% | 1.8% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 1.6% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.7% | 4.8% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 11.9% | 12.1% | 2 |
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 includes gold in South Africa?
- Total reserves includes gold in South Africa was 11.9% in 2011, according to International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.
- What is the highest total reserves includes gold recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves includes gold recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for total reserves includes gold?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is total reserves includes gold rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 85.5%. 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, International Financial Statistics and data files, published as part of Total reserves includes gold (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total reserves comprise holdings of monetary gold, special drawing rights, reserves of IMF members held by the IMF, and holdings of foreign exchange under the control of monetary authorities. The gold component of these reserves is valued at year-end (December 31) London prices.