Total reserves in Jamaica
Jamaica: Total reserves 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 111 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 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% |
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
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 18.65 % 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)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.1949 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 1,559 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 1,622 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 1,622 SDR per person (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 111 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.
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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.