Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 118.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total reserves in Vanuatu, 1981–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 118.2% for total reserves in 2024.
That represents a change of down 13.6% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Vanuatu peaked at 281.3% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2002.
Vanuatu ranks 13th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 281.3% | — |
| 1982 | 139.0% | -50.6% |
| 1983 | 62.1% | -55.3% |
| 1984 | 62.5% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 67.3% | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 117.4% | +74.5% |
| 1987 | 169.9% | +44.6% |
| 1988 | 151.9% | -10.6% |
| 1989 | 115.7% | -23.8% |
| 1990 | 98.6% | -14.8% |
| 1991 | 114.2% | +15.8% |
| 1992 | 117.2% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 113.4% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 95.6% | -15.7% |
| 1995 | 98.7% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 91.7% | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 76.5% | -16.6% |
| 1998 | 69.6% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 47.0% | -32.5% |
| 2000 | 34.7% | -26.2% |
| 2001 | 30.7% | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 22.7% | -25.9% |
| 2003 | 27.2% | +19.6% |
| 2004 | 40.2% | +47.7% |
| 2005 | 67.0% | +66.8% |
| 2006 | 94.6% | +41.3% |
| 2007 | 93.5% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 77.4% | -17.2% |
| 2009 | 96.9% | +25.2% |
| 2010 | 90.8% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 97.4% | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 100.0% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 113.1% | +13.1% |
| 2014 | 90.5% | -20.0% |
| 2015 | 104.8% | +15.8% |
| 2016 | 91.1% | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 98.4% | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 107.4% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 120.4% | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 139.5% | +15.8% |
| 2021 | 139.4% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 137.8% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 136.8% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 118.2% | -13.6% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 118.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 3.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 118.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 92.4%, 1.3× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 129.7% | 62.1% | 281.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 92.3% | 47.0% | 117.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.5% | 22.7% | 96.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.4% | 90.5% | 120.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 134.3% | 118.2% | 139.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More financial sector data for Vanuatu
- 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 0.0042 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 17.14 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 0.0031 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 12.52 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 0.0042 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 17.14 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 Vanuatu?
- Total reserves in Vanuatu was 118.2% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 281.3% in 1981.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2002.
- How does Vanuatu rank for total reserves?
- Vanuatu ranks 13th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.