Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total reserves (% of total external debt) 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 104th of 112 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) 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% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 10.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.0%, 28% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 10.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 24.1%, 45% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- 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 0.1797 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 0.1312 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 0.1797 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 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 104th out of 112 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.