Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 43.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total reserves in Eswatini, 1974–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Eswatini stood at 43.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.0% on the previous year and down 66.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Eswatini peaked at 181.9% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 35.3%, in 1985.
Eswatini ranks 42nd of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 37.2% | — |
| 1975 | 135.2% | +263.0% |
| 1976 | 179.9% | +33.1% |
| 1977 | 155.0% | -13.9% |
| 1978 | 76.6% | -50.6% |
| 1979 | 62.1% | -19.0% |
| 1980 | 76.5% | +23.1% |
| 1981 | 51.9% | -32.2% |
| 1982 | 37.0% | -28.6% |
| 1983 | 39.0% | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 41.9% | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 35.3% | -15.7% |
| 1986 | 35.3% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 42.0% | +19.0% |
| 1988 | 54.0% | +28.5% |
| 1989 | 66.6% | +23.4% |
| 1990 | 84.5% | +26.9% |
| 1991 | 66.0% | -21.9% |
| 1992 | 129.9% | +96.8% |
| 1993 | 115.8% | -10.8% |
| 1994 | 123.3% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 119.5% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 108.2% | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 72.1% | -33.4% |
| 1998 | 119.2% | +65.4% |
| 1999 | 110.5% | -7.3% |
| 2000 | 105.4% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 78.0% | -26.0% |
| 2002 | 67.1% | -13.9% |
| 2003 | 61.2% | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 69.8% | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | -32.8% |
| 2006 | 78.4% | +67.3% |
| 2007 | 155.5% | +98.3% |
| 2008 | 156.5% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 181.9% | +16.2% |
| 2010 | 74.4% | -59.1% |
| 2011 | 57.8% | -22.3% |
| 2012 | 85.8% | +48.4% |
| 2013 | 101.1% | +17.9% |
| 2014 | 128.6% | +27.1% |
| 2015 | 121.8% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 73.7% | -39.5% |
| 2017 | 64.5% | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 57.5% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 52.8% | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 48.5% | -14.8% |
| 2022 | 36.2% | -25.3% |
| 2023 | 39.0% | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 43.3% | +11.0% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 43.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 43.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 1.8× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Eswatini 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +263.0% | 37.2% | 135.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 107.7% | 37.2% | 179.9% | 6 |
| 1980s | 47.9% | 35.3% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 104.9% | 66.0% | 129.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 100.1% | 46.9% | 181.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.8% | 52.8% | 128.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.8% | 36.2% | 57.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 39 Jordan 46.7% compare
- 40 Chad 46.2% compare
- 41 Kyrgyzstan 43.5% compare
- 43 Mauritania 42.6% compare
- 44 Democratic Republic of Congo 42.5% compare
- 45 Madagascar 41.9% compare
More financial sector data for Eswatini
- 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 7.15 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 5.22 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 7.15 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 Eswatini?
- Total reserves in Eswatini was 43.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 181.9% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.3% in 1985.
- How does Eswatini rank for total reserves?
- Eswatini ranks 42nd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.