Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Gambia
Gambia: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 38.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Gambia, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Gambia stood at 38.3%.
That represents a change of down 12.1% on the previous year and up 34.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Gambia peaked at 229.4% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1985.
Gambia ranks 52nd 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 199.6% | — |
| 1972 | 154.6% | -22.6% |
| 1973 | 183.3% | +18.6% |
| 1974 | 229.4% | +25.2% |
| 1975 | 212.8% | -7.2% |
| 1976 | 133.8% | -37.2% |
| 1977 | 64.2% | -52.0% |
| 1978 | 52.3% | -18.4% |
| 1979 | 2.4% | -95.5% |
| 1980 | 4.1% | +74.5% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -45.9% |
| 1982 | 4.0% | +80.6% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | -66.0% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | -28.8% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -27.9% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | +609.6% |
| 1987 | 7.9% | +57.0% |
| 1988 | 5.9% | -25.7% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 15.0% | +146.1% |
| 1991 | 17.6% | +17.6% |
| 1992 | 23.3% | +32.1% |
| 1993 | 24.8% | +6.5% |
| 1994 | 23.2% | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 24.9% | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 22.6% | -9.3% |
| 1997 | 22.6% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 23.1% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 23.6% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 22.3% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 21.4% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | -14.6% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | -49.7% |
| 2004 | 12.3% | +33.7% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | +20.5% |
| 2006 | 17.0% | +14.5% |
| 2007 | 20.7% | +21.5% |
| 2008 | 29.8% | +44.1% |
| 2009 | 42.2% | +41.7% |
| 2010 | 37.1% | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 43.3% | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 41.8% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 28.5% | -21.0% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | -33.6% |
| 2016 | 14.1% | -25.8% |
| 2017 | 22.5% | +60.1% |
| 2018 | 24.7% | +9.4% |
| 2019 | 30.2% | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 40.1% | +33.1% |
| 2021 | 58.7% | +46.1% |
| 2022 | 48.2% | -17.9% |
| 2023 | 43.6% | -9.6% |
| 2024 | 38.3% | -12.1% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 38.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.5%, 2.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 38.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 1.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +609.6% | 0.7% | 5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 136.9% | 2.4% | 229.4% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 0.7% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.1% | 15.0% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.8% | 9.2% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.7% | 14.1% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.8% | 38.3% | 58.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More financial sector data for Gambia
- 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 0.0049 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 4.54 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 0.0036 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 3.31 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 0.0049 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 4.54 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 Gambia?
- Total reserves in Gambia was 38.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 229.4% in 1974.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1985.
- How does Gambia rank for total reserves?
- Gambia ranks 52nd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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.