Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Tanzania
Tanzania: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 22.3% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Tanzania, 1971–2018
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 22.3% for total reserves in 2018.
That represents a change of down 18.1% on the previous year and down 53.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Tanzania peaked at 57.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1982.
That places Tanzania 82nd out of 112 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.1% | — |
| 1972 | 8.6% | +67.2% |
| 1973 | 8.3% | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 2.5% | -69.9% |
| 1975 | 2.8% | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 4.2% | +48.7% |
| 1977 | 8.1% | +95.4% |
| 1978 | 2.3% | -71.9% |
| 1979 | 1.6% | -29.2% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | -76.1% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -15.6% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -76.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | +263.1% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +31.4% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -53.1% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +609.1% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | -53.7% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +123.8% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -28.3% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +223.4% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 4.9% | +57.9% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | -38.8% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | +52.9% |
| 1995 | 4.1% | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 6.4% | +56.9% |
| 1997 | 9.1% | +42.2% |
| 1998 | 8.3% | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 10.1% | +21.9% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +37.2% |
| 2001 | 18.0% | +30.6% |
| 2002 | 21.7% | +20.3% |
| 2003 | 27.8% | +28.2% |
| 2004 | 26.6% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 24.3% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 55.0% | +126.2% |
| 2007 | 57.2% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 47.4% | -17.1% |
| 2009 | 44.7% | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 43.7% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 36.8% | -15.8% |
| 2012 | 33.6% | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 26.8% | -19.9% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 22.3% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 27.2% | +22.3% |
| 2018 | 22.3% | -18.1% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 22.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 60% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 22.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 94% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +609.1% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| 1983 | +263.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.8% | 1.6% | 8.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6% | 3.0% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.7% | 13.8% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.8% | 22.2% | 43.7% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More financial sector data for Tanzania
- 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 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 1.16 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 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.8467 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 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 1.16 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 Tanzania?
- Total reserves in Tanzania was 22.3% in 2018, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 57.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1982.
- How does Tanzania rank for total reserves?
- Tanzania ranks 82nd out of 112 countries with data for 2018.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.