Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Eritrea
Eritrea: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 24.6% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Eritrea, 1995–2019
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Eritrea recorded 24.6% for total reserves in 2019.
The figure is up 20.3% on the previous year and up 187.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Eritrea peaked at 304.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2006.
Eritrea ranks 76th of 112 countries on this measure, 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 Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 110.4% | — |
| 1996 | 183.6% | +66.4% |
| 1997 | 304.3% | +65.7% |
| 1998 | 46.6% | -84.7% |
| 1999 | 21.5% | -53.8% |
| 2000 | 11.0% | -49.1% |
| 2001 | 11.7% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | -52.0% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -32.8% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -19.3% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -22.3% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +26.1% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | +55.4% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +52.6% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | +28.4% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 13.4% | +22.1% |
| 2013 | 14.1% | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | +18.2% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | +17.7% |
| 2019 | 24.6% | +20.3% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 24.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.5%, 1.3× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 24.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 1.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 133.3% | 21.5% | 304.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 2.9% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.3% | 11.0% | 24.6% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More financial sector data for Eritrea
- 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 units per US$ of GDP (2011)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0019 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 units per US$ of GDP (2011)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0014 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 units per US$ of GDP (2011)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0019 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 Eritrea?
- Total reserves in Eritrea was 24.6% in 2019, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 304.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2006.
- How does Eritrea rank for total reserves?
- Eritrea ranks 76th out of 112 countries with data for 2019.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 187.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eritrea 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.