Total reserves in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Total reserves was 25.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 25.3% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 46.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1984.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 38th of 40 groups 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 Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 21.5% | — |
| 1972 | 21.7% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 24.9% | +15.0% |
| 1974 | 18.0% | -27.9% |
| 1975 | 13.0% | -28.0% |
| 1976 | 12.3% | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 13.3% | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 9.9% | -25.4% |
| 1979 | 12.6% | +27.0% |
| 1980 | 10.6% | -16.0% |
| 1981 | 7.0% | -33.4% |
| 1982 | 5.5% | -22.2% |
| 1983 | 5.6% | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | -11.0% |
| 1985 | 5.4% | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | +26.7% |
| 1987 | 7.3% | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 7.8% | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 8.1% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 8.6% | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 9.0% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 9.9% | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 10.2% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 11.9% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 11.6% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | +25.3% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +25.9% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 19.7% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 18.1% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 24.3% | +34.4% |
| 2005 | 30.2% | +24.5% |
| 2006 | 42.0% | +38.9% |
| 2007 | 45.7% | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 46.6% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 44.5% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 41.6% | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 41.9% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 36.7% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 33.5% | -8.9% |
| 2015 | 31.3% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 28.0% | -10.8% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 24.1% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 24.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.9% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 24.6% | +7.8% |
| 2022 | 23.9% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 24.6% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 25.3% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.4% | 9.9% | 24.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.9% | 5.0% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 8.6% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 18.1% | 46.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 24.1% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.3% | 22.9% | 25.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 35 Tajikistan 52.0% compare
- 36 Lebanon 49.4% compare
- 37 Grenada 49.0% compare
- 38 Central African Republic 46.8% compare
- 39 Jordan 46.7% compare
- 40 Chad 46.2% compare
- 41 Kyrgyzstan 43.5% compare
More financial sector data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Net migration 114,862 (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 6.09 (2025)
- Broad money 50.7% (2024)
- Claims on central government, etc. 19.1% (2024)
- Domestic credit to private sector 50.7% (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 21.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 33.3% (2023)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 117.14 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Total reserves in Africa Eastern and Southern was 25.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 46.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1984.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for total reserves?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 38th out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). 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 indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.