Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 20.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Bangladesh, 1972–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 20.5% for total reserves in 2024.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Bangladesh peaked at 184.6% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1981.
That places Bangladesh 83rd out of 112 countries with data for 2024, 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 (% of total external debt) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 184.6% | — |
| 1973 | 28.8% | -84.4% |
| 1974 | 11.0% | -61.8% |
| 1975 | 8.8% | -19.7% |
| 1976 | 14.5% | +64.2% |
| 1977 | 10.4% | -28.5% |
| 1978 | 11.4% | +10.0% |
| 1979 | 13.9% | +22.4% |
| 1980 | 8.7% | -37.5% |
| 1981 | 3.8% | -56.4% |
| 1982 | 4.2% | +11.3% |
| 1983 | 10.2% | +141.9% |
| 1984 | 7.4% | -27.9% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -25.9% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | +63.8% |
| 1988 | 10.5% | +16.4% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | -52.5% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 10.1% | +87.5% |
| 1992 | 13.8% | +37.2% |
| 1993 | 17.3% | +25.5% |
| 1994 | 20.5% | +18.3% |
| 1995 | 15.1% | -26.3% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | -18.4% |
| 1997 | 11.3% | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | +10.5% |
| 1999 | 9.9% | -20.4% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | -10.3% |
| 2002 | 10.3% | +18.4% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | +38.0% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 15.3% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 19.2% | +26.0% |
| 2007 | 24.5% | +27.5% |
| 2008 | 24.8% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 40.8% | +64.4% |
| 2010 | 42.1% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 33.9% | -19.3% |
| 2012 | 43.7% | +29.0% |
| 2013 | 55.7% | +27.4% |
| 2014 | 63.3% | +13.5% |
| 2015 | 70.9% | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 77.7% | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 65.5% | -15.7% |
| 2018 | 56.1% | -14.4% |
| 2019 | 52.3% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 58.7% | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 50.5% | -14.0% |
| 2022 | 34.8% | -31.0% |
| 2023 | 21.6% | -38.1% |
| 2024 | 20.5% | -5.0% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 20.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 55% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 20.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 24.1%, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.4% | 8.8% | 184.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 7.0% | 3.8% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.8% | 5.4% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 8.7% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.1% | 33.9% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.2% | 20.5% | 58.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More financial sector data for Bangladesh
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.05 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0537 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.7636 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.05 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0537 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Bangladesh?
- Total reserves in Bangladesh was 20.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 184.6% in 1972.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1981.
- How does Bangladesh rank for total reserves?
- Bangladesh ranks 83rd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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.