Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 38.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Jamaica, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Jamaica is 38.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.1% on the previous year and up 116.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Jamaica peaked at 38.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1983.
Jamaica ranks 53rd 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17.6% | — |
| 1972 | 15.2% | -13.6% |
| 1973 | 10.5% | -31.2% |
| 1974 | 13.1% | +25.5% |
| 1975 | 7.7% | -41.3% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -71.3% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | +32.5% |
| 1978 | 4.1% | +39.5% |
| 1979 | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 5.4% | +34.6% |
| 1981 | 3.6% | -32.9% |
| 1982 | 3.8% | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | -52.2% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | +47.3% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | +45.8% |
| 1986 | 2.3% | -40.7% |
| 1987 | 3.7% | +58.4% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -13.0% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -27.4% |
| 1990 | 3.5% | +52.4% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -34.6% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +204.4% |
| 1993 | 9.4% | +34.9% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | +67.9% |
| 1995 | 14.8% | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 21.5% | +45.6% |
| 1997 | 17.9% | -16.9% |
| 1998 | 18.0% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | -23.4% |
| 2000 | 21.9% | +58.7% |
| 2001 | 34.7% | +58.7% |
| 2002 | 29.4% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | -28.9% |
| 2004 | 28.3% | +35.6% |
| 2005 | 32.9% | +16.2% |
| 2006 | 28.7% | -12.9% |
| 2007 | 17.8% | -37.8% |
| 2008 | 17.0% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 16.0% | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 14.0% | -12.3% |
| 2013 | 14.1% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 20.7% | +18.0% |
| 2016 | 23.5% | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 25.9% | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | -22.3% |
| 2019 | 25.1% | +24.6% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 30.2% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 28.6% | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 31.6% | +10.6% |
| 2024 | 38.0% | +20.1% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 38.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.0%, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 38.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 33.6%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Jamaica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +204.4% | 2.3% | 7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.6% | 2.2% | 17.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.3% | 1.8% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.4% | 2.3% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.0% | 17.0% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 14.0% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.1% | 27.2% | 38.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More financial sector data for Jamaica
- 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 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.2 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 9.64 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 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.2 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 Jamaica?
- Total reserves in Jamaica was 38.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 38.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1983.
- How does Jamaica rank for total reserves?
- Jamaica ranks 53rd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.