Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 26.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 26.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 64.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1988.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 33rd out of 40 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 24.1% | — |
| 1972 | 23.0% | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 25.9% | +12.9% |
| 1974 | 58.7% | +126.3% |
| 1975 | 47.4% | -19.2% |
| 1976 | 39.9% | -15.8% |
| 1977 | 27.3% | -31.7% |
| 1978 | 14.4% | -47.3% |
| 1979 | 25.6% | +78.2% |
| 1980 | 31.4% | +22.6% |
| 1981 | 13.9% | -55.7% |
| 1982 | 8.4% | -39.8% |
| 1983 | 6.5% | -22.6% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 6.5% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 6.1% | -6.1% |
| 1988 | 6.0% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 7.1% | +18.3% |
| 1990 | 8.8% | +24.1% |
| 1991 | 9.4% | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 7.1% | -23.9% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 8.9% | +17.1% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 10.7% | +15.0% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | +34.8% |
| 1998 | 13.3% | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 18.1% | +21.8% |
| 2001 | 18.6% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 16.3% | -12.3% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +51.0% |
| 2005 | 35.4% | +47.2% |
| 2006 | 57.6% | +62.6% |
| 2007 | 62.8% | +9.0% |
| 2008 | 64.9% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 57.2% | -11.9% |
| 2010 | 48.9% | -14.5% |
| 2011 | 48.3% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 47.5% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 43.6% | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 37.8% | -13.2% |
| 2015 | 33.8% | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 29.8% | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 28.4% | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 27.1% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 25.5% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 27.2% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 25.2% | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 25.1% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 26.8% | +6.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +126.3% | 25.9% | 58.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31.8% | 14.4% | 58.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.9% | 6.0% | 31.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.4% | 7.1% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.1% | 15.9% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.3% | 27.1% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.0% | 25.1% | 27.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More financial sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Net migration -223,909 (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 6.12 (2025)
- Broad money 42.6% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 12.9% (2023)
- Domestic credit to private sector 31.7% (2023)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 20.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 24.8% (2023)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 67.11 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Total reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 26.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1988.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for total reserves?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 33rd out of 40 groups with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.