Total reserves in Arab World
Arab World: Total reserves was 81.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Arab World, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Arab World recorded 81.3% for total reserves in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% on the previous year and down 34.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Arab World peaked at 165.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 1989.
That places Arab World 7th out of 40 groups with data for 2024, 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 Arab World, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 33.2% | — |
| 1972 | 41.7% | +25.6% |
| 1973 | 57.1% | +36.8% |
| 1974 | 79.5% | +39.2% |
| 1975 | 41.6% | -47.7% |
| 1976 | 36.0% | -13.4% |
| 1977 | 24.5% | -31.8% |
| 1978 | 24.4% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 32.6% | +33.6% |
| 1980 | 33.0% | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 23.8% | -27.8% |
| 1982 | 22.2% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 17.4% | -21.5% |
| 1984 | 12.1% | -30.2% |
| 1985 | 12.9% | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 11.0% | -14.2% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 10.3% | -13.9% |
| 1989 | 10.2% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 12.2% | +19.7% |
| 1991 | 16.0% | +31.7% |
| 1992 | 20.8% | +29.9% |
| 1993 | 25.2% | +21.2% |
| 1994 | 27.0% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 27.6% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 31.4% | +13.7% |
| 1997 | 36.6% | +16.6% |
| 1998 | 33.6% | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 33.0% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 37.4% | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 44.6% | +19.4% |
| 2002 | 50.6% | +13.4% |
| 2003 | 64.0% | +26.5% |
| 2004 | 71.8% | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 92.1% | +28.2% |
| 2006 | 123.4% | +34.0% |
| 2007 | 142.6% | +15.6% |
| 2008 | 157.9% | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 160.3% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 165.5% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 156.5% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 145.5% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 131.3% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 124.5% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 115.7% | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 95.3% | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 86.1% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 85.6% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 79.1% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 66.2% | -16.4% |
| 2021 | 64.0% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 70.4% | +10.0% |
| 2023 | 75.6% | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 81.3% | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41.2% | 24.4% | 79.5% | 9 |
| 1980s | 16.5% | 10.2% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.3% | 12.2% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.5% | 37.4% | 160.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 118.5% | 79.1% | 165.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.5% | 64.0% | 81.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More financial sector data for Arab World
- Net migration 696,991 (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 10.84 (2024)
- Broad money 80.7% (2017)
- Claims on central government, etc. 15.7% (2018)
- Domestic credit to private sector 53.3% (2017)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate -21.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 51.7% (2017)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 34.25 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Arab World?
- Total reserves in Arab World was 81.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 165.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 1989.
- How does Arab World rank for total reserves?
- Arab World ranks 7th out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Arab World 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.