Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 28.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Papua New Guinea, 1973–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Papua New Guinea is 28.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 14.5% on the previous year and up 153.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Papua New Guinea peaked at 148.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 1994.
That places Papua New Guinea 67th out of 112 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 5.9% | — |
| 1974 | 6.4% | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 35.5% | +452.9% |
| 1976 | 49.4% | +39.1% |
| 1977 | 63.8% | +29.2% |
| 1978 | 71.1% | +11.4% |
| 1979 | 87.2% | +22.6% |
| 1980 | 63.7% | -27.0% |
| 1981 | 35.5% | -44.2% |
| 1982 | 29.6% | -16.8% |
| 1983 | 24.8% | -16.0% |
| 1984 | 22.4% | -9.8% |
| 1985 | 21.9% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 22.7% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 20.5% | -9.5% |
| 1988 | 18.6% | -9.2% |
| 1989 | 17.7% | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 16.5% | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 12.4% | -24.4% |
| 1992 | 6.9% | -45.0% |
| 1993 | 5.1% | -25.8% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -15.3% |
| 1995 | 10.6% | +147.2% |
| 1996 | 24.2% | +127.5% |
| 1997 | 14.7% | -39.2% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | -47.1% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 13.1% | +55.6% |
| 2001 | 21.5% | +64.3% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | -14.0% |
| 2003 | 27.9% | +51.2% |
| 2004 | 37.3% | +33.5% |
| 2005 | 40.1% | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 82.1% | +104.7% |
| 2007 | 137.6% | +67.6% |
| 2008 | 139.8% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 148.6% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 52.1% | -64.9% |
| 2011 | 34.6% | -33.7% |
| 2012 | 27.0% | -21.8% |
| 2013 | 13.2% | -51.2% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -13.6% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -24.4% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 10.1% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 12.5% | +23.9% |
| 2019 | 12.3% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +20.9% |
| 2021 | 16.4% | +10.4% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | +23.6% |
| 2023 | 25.2% | +24.0% |
| 2024 | 28.9% | +14.5% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 28.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 78% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 28.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 92.4%, 31% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Papua New Guinea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +452.9% | 6.4% | 35.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 45.6% | 5.9% | 87.2% | 7 |
| 1980s | 27.7% | 17.7% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.1% | 4.3% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.7% | 13.1% | 148.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 8.6% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 14.9% | 28.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More financial sector data for Papua New Guinea
- 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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0743 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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0543 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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0743 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 Papua New Guinea?
- Total reserves in Papua New Guinea was 28.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 148.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 1994.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for total reserves?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 67th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 153.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.