Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Nepal
Nepal: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 156.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Nepal, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Nepal is 156.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.1% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Nepal peaked at 1,116.8% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 1985.
Nepal ranks 7th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,116.8% | — |
| 1972 | 871.0% | -22.0% |
| 1973 | 657.2% | -24.5% |
| 1974 | 528.3% | -19.6% |
| 1975 | 335.1% | -36.6% |
| 1976 | 292.6% | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 160.5% | -45.1% |
| 1978 | 158.2% | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 160.8% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 133.0% | -17.3% |
| 1981 | 94.1% | -29.2% |
| 1982 | 76.1% | -19.2% |
| 1983 | 42.2% | -44.5% |
| 1984 | 27.3% | -35.3% |
| 1985 | 17.9% | -34.6% |
| 1986 | 19.6% | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 25.5% | +30.0% |
| 1988 | 24.3% | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 20.1% | -17.1% |
| 1990 | 21.8% | +8.2% |
| 1991 | 25.5% | +17.4% |
| 1992 | 28.8% | +12.8% |
| 1993 | 34.9% | +21.2% |
| 1994 | 32.4% | -7.2% |
| 1995 | 26.8% | -17.4% |
| 1996 | 26.2% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 27.8% | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 30.0% | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 29.4% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 34.3% | +16.9% |
| 2001 | 39.4% | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 35.7% | -9.4% |
| 2003 | 40.0% | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 45.4% | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 49.1% | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 56.9% | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 55.7% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 66.5% | +19.3% |
| 2009 | 74.6% | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 79.3% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 96.8% | +22.1% |
| 2012 | 116.0% | +19.8% |
| 2013 | 135.4% | +16.8% |
| 2014 | 156.1% | +15.3% |
| 2015 | 196.6% | +25.9% |
| 2016 | 203.3% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 190.1% | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 151.3% | -20.4% |
| 2019 | 133.7% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 145.1% | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 109.3% | -24.7% |
| 2022 | 101.5% | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 124.8% | +23.0% |
| 2024 | 156.1% | +25.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 156.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 4.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 156.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 24.1%, 6.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 475.6% | 158.2% | 1,116.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 48.0% | 17.9% | 133.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.4% | 21.8% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.8% | 34.3% | 74.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 145.9% | 79.3% | 203.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 127.3% | 101.5% | 156.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More financial sector data for Nepal
- 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 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.7398 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 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.5402 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 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.7398 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 Nepal?
- Total reserves in Nepal was 156.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 1,116.8% in 1971.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 1985.
- How does Nepal rank for total reserves?
- Nepal ranks 7th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.