Total reserves in Low & middle income
Low & middle income: Total reserves was 74.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Low & middle income, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Low & middle income recorded 74.9% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Low & middle income peaked at 134.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1988.
Low & middle income ranks 12th 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 Low & middle income, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17.1% | — |
| 1972 | 22.8% | +33.7% |
| 1973 | 29.1% | +27.6% |
| 1974 | 32.6% | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 22.2% | -31.9% |
| 1976 | 23.0% | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 21.1% | -8.2% |
| 1978 | 21.7% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 27.3% | +26.1% |
| 1980 | 28.2% | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 19.0% | -32.6% |
| 1982 | 16.6% | -12.6% |
| 1983 | 14.2% | -14.3% |
| 1984 | 14.7% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 13.4% | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 12.3% | -8.4% |
| 1987 | 12.9% | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 12.0% | -7.2% |
| 1989 | 12.2% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | +17.0% |
| 1991 | 17.7% | +23.7% |
| 1992 | 17.9% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 20.1% | +12.3% |
| 1994 | 22.0% | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 23.6% | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 27.4% | +16.3% |
| 1997 | 29.0% | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 27.5% | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 28.3% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 30.3% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 33.9% | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 40.6% | +19.9% |
| 2003 | 49.2% | +21.2% |
| 2004 | 61.3% | +24.6% |
| 2005 | 77.0% | +25.6% |
| 2006 | 92.9% | +20.7% |
| 2007 | 113.1% | +21.7% |
| 2008 | 123.1% | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 134.7% | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 128.8% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 121.6% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 114.5% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 108.6% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 99.5% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 97.0% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 89.1% | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 84.0% | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 77.4% | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 76.4% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 77.2% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 73.9% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 71.4% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 74.1% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 74.9% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.1% | 17.1% | 32.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 15.5% | 12.0% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.8% | 14.3% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.6% | 30.3% | 134.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 99.7% | 76.4% | 128.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.3% | 71.4% | 77.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Low & middle income
More financial sector data for Low & middle income
- Net migration -2.38 million (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 119.3% (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 9.9 (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 119.8% (2024)
- Broad money 159.0% (2024)
- Claims on central government, etc. 34.9% (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 10.19 % 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 121.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Low & middle income?
- Total reserves in Low & middle income was 74.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Low & middle income?
- The highest recorded value was 134.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Low & middle income?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1988.
- How does Low & middle income rank for total reserves?
- Low & middle income ranks 12th out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Low & middle income?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Low & middle 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.