Total reserves in Small states
Small states: Total reserves was 35.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total reserves in Small states, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Small states recorded 35.8% for total reserves in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Small states peaked at 94.2% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 1983.
Small states ranks 24th of 40 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Total reserves in Small states, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 59.3% | — |
| 1972 | 81.4% | +37.3% |
| 1973 | 57.5% | -29.3% |
| 1974 | 85.6% | +48.8% |
| 1975 | 94.2% | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 51.8% | -45.0% |
| 1977 | 41.8% | -19.3% |
| 1978 | 36.5% | -12.7% |
| 1979 | 26.4% | -27.6% |
| 1980 | 27.5% | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 18.7% | -32.2% |
| 1982 | 16.5% | -11.3% |
| 1983 | 15.3% | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 16.2% | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 16.7% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 21.3% | +27.2% |
| 1987 | 26.4% | +24.1% |
| 1988 | 30.9% | +16.8% |
| 1989 | 35.2% | +14.2% |
| 1990 | 39.0% | +10.6% |
| 1991 | 41.7% | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 46.4% | +11.3% |
| 1993 | 42.6% | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 40.2% | -5.6% |
| 1995 | 39.1% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 46.6% | +19.2% |
| 1997 | 41.2% | -11.6% |
| 1998 | 42.0% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 44.6% | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 48.4% | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 43.9% | -9.4% |
| 2002 | 40.2% | -8.5% |
| 2003 | 38.0% | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 39.9% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 34.9% | -12.4% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 44.1% | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 35.6% | -19.2% |
| 2009 | 40.5% | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 38.0% | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 32.3% | -15.0% |
| 2012 | 36.0% | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 34.2% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 35.6% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 37.5% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 38.3% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 40.8% | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 39.2% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 41.1% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 40.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 42.1% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 38.7% | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 34.8% | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 35.8% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.4% | 26.4% | 94.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 22.5% | 15.3% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.4% | 39.0% | 46.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.4% | 34.9% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.3% | 32.3% | 41.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.4% | 34.8% | 42.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Small states
- 21 Comoros 84.0% compare
- 22 Philippines 77.5% compare
- 23 Myanmar 76.8% compare
- 24 Bosnia and Herzegovina 67.8% compare
- 25 Viet Nam 62.5% compare
- 26 Albania 60.8% compare
- 27 Uzbekistan 58.7% compare
More financial sector data for Small states
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 52.3% (2024)
- Net migration, annual growth rate -63.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 4.49 (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 52.6% (2024)
- Broad money 71.0% (2019)
- Net migration -38,523 (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 10.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Small states?
- Total reserves in Small states was 35.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Small states?
- The highest recorded value was 94.2% in 1975.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Small states?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 1983.
- How does Small states rank for total reserves?
- Small states ranks 24th out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Small states?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Small states 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.