Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 18.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Rwanda, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Rwanda stood at 18.4%.
That represents a change of up 14.5% on the previous year and down 43.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Rwanda peaked at 289.1% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 1993.
That places Rwanda 88th out of 112 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 289.1% | — |
| 1972 | 188.3% | -34.9% |
| 1973 | 191.8% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 106.5% | -44.5% |
| 1975 | 103.5% | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 130.3% | +25.9% |
| 1977 | 96.1% | -26.2% |
| 1978 | 74.9% | -22.1% |
| 1979 | 105.8% | +41.2% |
| 1980 | 103.3% | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 85.3% | -17.4% |
| 1982 | 54.6% | -36.0% |
| 1983 | 46.3% | -15.2% |
| 1984 | 36.7% | -20.7% |
| 1985 | 31.0% | -15.6% |
| 1986 | 36.0% | +16.3% |
| 1987 | 27.3% | -24.2% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | -33.5% |
| 1989 | 11.2% | -38.2% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | -44.3% |
| 1991 | 13.6% | +117.6% |
| 1992 | 9.2% | -32.6% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | -43.2% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +78.5% |
| 1996 | 10.2% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | +34.9% |
| 1998 | 13.7% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 13.3% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 14.8% | +11.3% |
| 2001 | 16.3% | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 13.8% | -17.7% |
| 2004 | 18.8% | +36.4% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 88.1% | +423.2% |
| 2007 | 126.6% | +43.8% |
| 2008 | 82.8% | -34.6% |
| 2009 | 91.7% | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 65.4% | -28.7% |
| 2011 | 49.1% | -24.9% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | -46.8% |
| 2013 | 28.3% | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 32.5% | +14.9% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -18.1% |
| 2016 | 23.5% | -11.7% |
| 2017 | 23.2% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 23.8% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 22.5% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 20.0% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 18.4% | +14.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 18.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 18.5%, 100% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 18.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 77% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +423.2% | 16.8% | 88.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 142.9% | 74.9% | 289.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 45.0% | 11.2% | 103.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 5.2% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.7% | 13.8% | 126.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.1% | 22.5% | 65.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 16.1% | 21.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 85 Montenegro 19.9% compare
- 86 Ghana 19.0% compare
- 87 Sierra Leone 18.6% compare
- 89 Sao Tome and Principe 18.0% compare
- 90 Georgia 17.7% compare
- 91 Yemen 17.0% compare
More financial sector data for Rwanda
- 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 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.88 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 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 1.37 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 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.88 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 Rwanda?
- Total reserves in Rwanda was 18.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 289.1% in 1971.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 1993.
- How does Rwanda rank for total reserves?
- Rwanda ranks 88th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.