Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Total reserves (% of total external debt) 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 110th of 112 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 (% of total external debt) 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% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 3.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 9% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 3.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 14% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +2219.3% | 0.3% | 5.9% |
| 2009 | +847.9% | 1.3% | 12.8% |
| 2024 | +324.0% | 0.8% | 3.4% |
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
- 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 0.0265 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 0.0194 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 0.0265 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 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 110th out of 112 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.