Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 27.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Bhutan, 1983–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Bhutan stood at 27.7%.
That represents a change of up 38.1% on the previous year and down 56.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Bhutan peaked at 2,011.2% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2023.
That places Bhutan 69th 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 Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2,011.2% | — |
| 1984 | 1,575.7% | -21.7% |
| 1985 | 603.7% | -61.7% |
| 1986 | 291.1% | -51.8% |
| 1987 | 216.1% | -25.8% |
| 1988 | 142.6% | -34.0% |
| 1989 | 121.9% | -14.5% |
| 1990 | 106.3% | -12.8% |
| 1991 | 117.3% | +10.3% |
| 1992 | 95.4% | -18.7% |
| 1993 | 101.4% | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 116.2% | +14.6% |
| 1995 | 123.3% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 168.1% | +36.3% |
| 1997 | 157.8% | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 150.1% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 152.2% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 150.1% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 118.6% | -21.0% |
| 2002 | 91.9% | -22.5% |
| 2003 | 74.3% | -19.2% |
| 2004 | 66.3% | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 71.2% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 75.6% | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 87.2% | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 110.3% | +26.5% |
| 2009 | 113.3% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 107.2% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 73.8% | -31.2% |
| 2012 | 65.9% | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 60.9% | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 64.1% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 52.3% | -18.5% |
| 2016 | 47.2% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 44.5% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 37.2% | -16.4% |
| 2019 | 44.2% | +18.6% |
| 2020 | 44.1% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 32.1% | -27.2% |
| 2022 | 26.1% | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | -23.3% |
| 2024 | 27.7% | +38.1% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 27.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 74% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 27.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 24.1%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 708.9% | 121.9% | 2,011.2% | 7 |
| 1990s | 128.8% | 95.4% | 168.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 95.9% | 66.3% | 150.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.7% | 37.2% | 107.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.0% | 20.0% | 44.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 67 Papua New Guinea 28.9% compare
- 68 Egypt 28.8% compare
- 70 Guyana 27.4% compare
- 71 Dominica 27.4% compare
- 72 Kazakhstan 27.3% compare
More financial sector data for Bhutan
- 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 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.82 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 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.71 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 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.82 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 Bhutan?
- Total reserves in Bhutan was 27.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 2,011.2% in 1983.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2023.
- How does Bhutan rank for total reserves?
- Bhutan ranks 69th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.