Total reserves in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Total reserves was 3.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Zimbabwe, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
In 2024, total reserves in Zimbabwe stood at 3.4%.
The figure is up 324.0% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Zimbabwe peaked at 96.1% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 109th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17.5% | — |
| 1972 | 44.4% | +153.8% |
| 1973 | 96.1% | +116.5% |
| 1974 | 75.6% | -21.3% |
| 1975 | 69.1% | -8.6% |
| 1976 | 78.1% | +12.9% |
| 1977 | 48.9% | -37.3% |
| 1978 | 41.3% | -15.5% |
| 1979 | 77.3% | +86.9% |
| 1980 | 53.4% | -30.9% |
| 1981 | 28.2% | -47.2% |
| 1982 | 17.1% | -39.3% |
| 1983 | 13.7% | -20.1% |
| 1984 | 11.9% | -13.1% |
| 1985 | 14.2% | +19.7% |
| 1986 | 12.0% | -15.9% |
| 1987 | 12.7% | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 12.5% | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -23.0% |
| 1990 | 8.9% | -7.4% |
| 1991 | 8.4% | -5.7% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | +15.6% |
| 1993 | 14.6% | +50.1% |
| 1994 | 12.8% | -11.9% |
| 1995 | 17.5% | +36.3% |
| 1996 | 16.4% | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 7.7% | -53.0% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | -14.4% |
| 1999 | 10.9% | +64.3% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | -25.4% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -61.3% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -10.8% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | +59.7% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -54.3% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | +43.9% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -51.0% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | +847.9% |
| 2010 | 10.4% | -18.8% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | -17.3% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -27.1% |
| 2013 | 5.4% | -13.0% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -22.8% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -20.7% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -34.0% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -70.6% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +80.1% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | -78.7% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | +2219.3% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -28.7% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -81.3% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +324.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 60.9% | 17.5% | 96.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 18.5% | 9.6% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.3% | 6.6% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 1.3% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 0.7% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 0.3% | 5.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More financial sector data for Zimbabwe
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate 302.18 % 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 123.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.0087 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 26.26 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 123.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 26.42 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 133.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 51.13 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Zimbabwe?
- Total reserves in Zimbabwe was 3.4% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 96.1% in 1973.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for total reserves?
- Zimbabwe ranks 109th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.