Total reserves in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total reserves was 10.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Total reserves in Sri Lanka, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Sri Lanka stood at 10.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 47.4% on the previous year and down 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Sri Lanka peaked at 35.1% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2022.
Sri Lanka ranks 103rd of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Total reserves in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9.7% | — |
| 1972 | 10.7% | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 13.7% | +27.8% |
| 1974 | 9.9% | -27.8% |
| 1975 | 7.0% | -29.1% |
| 1976 | 9.8% | +39.6% |
| 1977 | 25.6% | +161.4% |
| 1978 | 29.5% | +15.0% |
| 1979 | 35.1% | +19.3% |
| 1980 | 15.3% | -56.5% |
| 1981 | 15.7% | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 14.4% | -8.1% |
| 1983 | 11.1% | -23.1% |
| 1984 | 17.7% | +59.2% |
| 1985 | 13.3% | -24.7% |
| 1986 | 9.2% | -30.6% |
| 1987 | 6.5% | -29.5% |
| 1988 | 4.8% | -27.0% |
| 1989 | 5.2% | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 7.6% | +46.6% |
| 1991 | 11.0% | +44.4% |
| 1992 | 15.1% | +37.5% |
| 1993 | 24.0% | +58.3% |
| 1994 | 26.0% | +8.5% |
| 1995 | 25.2% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 23.9% | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 25.2% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 22.1% | -12.5% |
| 1999 | 16.6% | -24.6% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -26.5% |
| 2001 | 15.2% | +24.0% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 21.8% | +29.2% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | -12.6% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | +27.3% |
| 2006 | 23.9% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 24.8% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 16.0% | -35.5% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | +71.2% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 26.1% | -21.3% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | -23.9% |
| 2013 | 19.1% | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | -22.5% |
| 2017 | 15.7% | +21.8% |
| 2018 | 13.1% | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -26.9% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | -46.4% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | -39.5% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | +125.3% |
| 2024 | 10.7% | +47.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.8% | 7.0% | 35.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 11.3% | 4.8% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.7% | 7.6% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 12.2% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 12.9% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 3.2% | 10.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More financial sector data for Sri Lanka
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 20.22 % 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)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 43.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.0466 SDR per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 211.59 SDR per person (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 42.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 211.84 SDR per person (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 42.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 213.21 SDR per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Sri Lanka?
- Total reserves in Sri Lanka was 10.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 35.1% in 1979.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2022.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for total reserves?
- Sri Lanka ranks 103rd out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.