Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Lebanon
Lebanon: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 49.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Lebanon, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Lebanon recorded 49.4% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of up 19.2% on the previous year and down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Lebanon peaked at 6,517.0% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 41.4%, in 2023.
Lebanon ranks 36th 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 879.4% | — |
| 1972 | 1,498.8% | +70.4% |
| 1973 | 2,672.4% | +78.3% |
| 1974 | 6,081.8% | +127.6% |
| 1975 | 5,461.1% | -10.2% |
| 1976 | 6,517.0% | +19.3% |
| 1977 | 5,809.4% | -10.9% |
| 1978 | 2,120.0% | -63.5% |
| 1979 | 2,253.2% | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 1,376.6% | -38.9% |
| 1981 | 834.4% | -39.4% |
| 1982 | 940.4% | +12.7% |
| 1983 | 589.1% | -37.4% |
| 1984 | 405.7% | -31.1% |
| 1985 | 466.8% | +15.1% |
| 1986 | 472.4% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 501.6% | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 479.3% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 449.6% | -6.2% |
| 1990 | 235.6% | -47.6% |
| 1991 | 290.3% | +23.2% |
| 1992 | 251.9% | -13.2% |
| 1993 | 433.4% | +72.0% |
| 1994 | 348.8% | -19.5% |
| 1995 | 272.2% | -22.0% |
| 1996 | 232.3% | -14.7% |
| 1997 | 169.9% | -26.9% |
| 1998 | 132.1% | -22.2% |
| 1999 | 123.1% | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 84.1% | -31.7% |
| 2001 | 55.8% | -33.6% |
| 2002 | 59.4% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 85.9% | +44.6% |
| 2004 | 69.2% | -19.5% |
| 2005 | 72.9% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 79.4% | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 79.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 64.2% | -19.2% |
| 2009 | 84.8% | +32.1% |
| 2010 | 93.0% | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 96.4% | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 94.3% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 77.0% | -18.3% |
| 2014 | 78.6% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 71.1% | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 77.5% | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 74.7% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 65.7% | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 61.6% | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | -14.5% |
| 2022 | 48.5% | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 41.4% | -14.5% |
| 2024 | 49.4% | +19.2% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 49.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 1.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 49.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 46.7%, 1.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Lebanon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +127.6% | 2,672.4% | 6,081.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,699.2% | 879.4% | 6,517.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 651.6% | 405.7% | 1,376.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 249.0% | 123.1% | 433.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.5% | 55.8% | 85.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.9% | 65.7% | 96.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 41.4% | 61.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More financial sector data for Lebanon
- 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 0.0063 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 29.61 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 0.0049 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 21.62 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 0.0063 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 29.61 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 Lebanon?
- Total reserves in Lebanon was 49.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 6,517.0% in 1976.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.4% in 2023.
- How does Lebanon rank for total reserves?
- Lebanon ranks 36th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.