Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Congo
Congo: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 11.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Congo, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Congo recorded 11.3% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and down 86.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Congo peaked at 176.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1998.
Congo ranks 103rd of 112 countries 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 (% of total external debt) in Congo, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 7.7% | — |
| 1972 | 6.5% | -15.5% |
| 1973 | 4.2% | -36.4% |
| 1974 | 9.3% | +122.7% |
| 1975 | 3.9% | -58.2% |
| 1976 | 3.2% | -17.5% |
| 1977 | 2.5% | -21.7% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | -42.0% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | +213.7% |
| 1980 | 6.1% | +33.4% |
| 1981 | 8.6% | +41.2% |
| 1982 | 2.2% | -74.8% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | -73.2% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | -36.8% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -31.7% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | +27.5% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | -35.7% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +11.6% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | +9.2% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -16.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -12.4% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -10.1% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -31.6% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +804.0% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +72.1% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | -31.1% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -93.7% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | +968.3% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | +468.3% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -69.0% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -52.6% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | +155.7% |
| 2005 | 11.7% | +543.3% |
| 2006 | 27.6% | +135.9% |
| 2007 | 41.3% | +49.6% |
| 2008 | 74.1% | +79.2% |
| 2009 | 75.3% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 159.0% | +111.2% |
| 2011 | 176.7% | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 154.8% | -12.4% |
| 2013 | 124.8% | -19.3% |
| 2014 | 86.1% | -31.1% |
| 2015 | 32.8% | -61.9% |
| 2016 | 10.7% | -67.3% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -51.6% |
| 2018 | 6.0% | +16.0% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +95.7% |
| 2020 | 13.9% | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | -26.7% |
| 2022 | 11.4% | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 10.4% | -8.7% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | +8.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 11.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 30% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Congo's 11.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 47% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +968.3% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| 1994 | +804.0% | 0.1% | 1.0% |
| 2005 | +543.3% | 1.8% | 11.7% |
| 2000 | +468.3% | 0.8% | 4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.8% | 1.4% | 9.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 0.2% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.1% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.0% | 0.7% | 75.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.8% | 5.2% | 176.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More financial sector data for Congo
- 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 4.25 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 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 3.1 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 4.25 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 Congo?
- Total reserves in Congo was 11.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 176.7% in 2011.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1998.
- How does Congo rank for total reserves?
- Congo ranks 103rd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 86.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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.
Download this data
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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.