Total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Total reserves was 22.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1971–2020
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) is 22.2%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 45.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1990.
That places Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 39th out of 40 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17.4% | — |
| 1972 | 17.4% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 20.3% | +16.3% |
| 1974 | 17.1% | -15.5% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | -29.7% |
| 1976 | 10.9% | -9.7% |
| 1977 | 10.5% | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 8.4% | -19.6% |
| 1979 | 10.0% | +18.4% |
| 1980 | 7.8% | -21.3% |
| 1981 | 6.0% | -23.4% |
| 1982 | 5.1% | -15.7% |
| 1983 | 4.5% | -10.7% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | -10.3% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 4.2% | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | -23.1% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 3.2% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -11.1% |
| 1991 | 3.3% | +16.4% |
| 1992 | 3.4% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 3.2% | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 3.9% | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +22.0% |
| 1996 | 5.9% | +23.5% |
| 1997 | 6.4% | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | -9.3% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | +19.1% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 9.4% | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 12.7% | +28.2% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | +18.5% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | +67.9% |
| 2007 | 31.5% | +24.4% |
| 2008 | 35.6% | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 39.8% | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 44.1% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 45.1% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 43.2% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 33.7% | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 27.9% | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 22.8% | -18.0% |
| 2017 | 23.7% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 23.1% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 22.4% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 22.2% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.8% | 8.4% | 20.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.2% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 2.8% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 7.4% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.3% | 22.4% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.2% | 22.2% | 22.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
More financial sector data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 8.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 21.5% (2023)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 52.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 3.89 (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 21.7% (2023)
- Broad money 34.3% (2021)
- Net migration -391,317 (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 10.9% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Total reserves in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 22.2% in 2020, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The highest recorded value was 45.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1990.
- How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for total reserves?
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 39th out of 40 groups with data for 2020.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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.