Total reserves in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income): Total reserves was 40.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) recorded 40.9% for total reserves in 2024.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) peaked at 59.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 1983.
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 21st of 40 groups 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 Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 13.7% | — |
| 1972 | 20.6% | +50.3% |
| 1973 | 26.9% | +30.7% |
| 1974 | 21.2% | -21.1% |
| 1975 | 13.7% | -35.6% |
| 1976 | 16.0% | +17.3% |
| 1977 | 16.7% | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 20.2% | +20.5% |
| 1979 | 22.7% | +12.5% |
| 1980 | 17.5% | -22.8% |
| 1981 | 12.0% | -31.5% |
| 1982 | 7.7% | -35.9% |
| 1983 | 7.2% | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 9.8% | +36.1% |
| 1985 | 9.6% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 8.7% | -10.2% |
| 1987 | 9.1% | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 8.0% | -13.0% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 9.9% | +23.9% |
| 1991 | 12.8% | +29.5% |
| 1992 | 17.8% | +38.9% |
| 1993 | 20.8% | +17.3% |
| 1994 | 17.7% | -15.2% |
| 1995 | 20.3% | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 22.9% | +13.2% |
| 1997 | 22.7% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 19.2% | -15.1% |
| 1999 | 17.4% | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 17.6% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 17.9% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 18.6% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 23.8% | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 29.6% | +24.6% |
| 2006 | 36.1% | +21.8% |
| 2007 | 50.1% | +38.7% |
| 2008 | 51.5% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 56.3% | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 57.0% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 59.2% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 57.1% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 51.0% | -10.7% |
| 2014 | 47.7% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 44.8% | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 45.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 44.8% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 42.6% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 40.8% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 42.7% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 43.1% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 40.2% | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 40.0% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 40.9% | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.1% | 13.7% | 26.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 7.2% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.1% | 9.9% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 17.6% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.0% | 40.8% | 59.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.4% | 40.0% | 43.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
More financial sector data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
- Net migration -462,147 (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 47.3% (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 6.7 (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 47.3% (2025)
- Broad money 73.6% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 35.1% (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector 50.1% (2025)
All data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Total reserves in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) was 40.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 59.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 1983.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) rank for total reserves?
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 21st out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 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.