Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Laos
Laos: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 12.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Laos, 1988–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Laos is 12.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 26.6% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Laos peaked at 19.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1988.
Laos ranks 100th of 112 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.6% | +1066.6% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | -15.9% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +291.3% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | +29.5% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +46.1% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | +40.4% |
| 1996 | 7.8% | +70.2% |
| 1997 | 5.0% | -35.3% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 5.7% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +17.9% |
| 2003 | 11.6% | +59.0% |
| 2004 | 10.6% | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 10.5% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 13.4% | +26.7% |
| 2007 | 15.2% | +14.1% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 16.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 17.4% | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | -24.2% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -28.9% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | -27.2% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | -17.7% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | +58.9% |
| 2021 | 10.4% | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 8.5% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | +15.0% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | +26.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 12.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 33% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Laos's 12.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 92.4%, 13% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +1066.6% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 1991 | +291.3% | 0.5% | 1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 0.5% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 5.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.6% | 5.8% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 8.5% | 12.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More financial sector data for Laos
- 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 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 2.3 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 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 1.68 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 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 2.3 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 Laos?
- Total reserves in Laos was 12.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 19.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1988.
- How does Laos rank for total reserves?
- Laos ranks 100th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.