24_International reserves in South Africa
South Africa: 24_International reserves was 59.26 billion excluding gold in 2026. ◆ Volatile
24_International reserves in South Africa, 1990–2026
Source: IMF. Measured in excluding gold.
Analysis
In 2026, 24_international reserves in South Africa stood at 59.26 billion excluding gold. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.0% on the previous year and up 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 24_international reserves in South Africa peaked at 59.26 billion excluding gold in 2026 and was at its lowest, 588.08 million excluding gold, in 1994.
That places South Africa 35th out of 175 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
24_International reserves in South Africa, year by year
| Year | excluding gold | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.04 billion excluding gold | — |
| 1991 | 1.13 billion excluding gold | +8.4% |
| 1992 | 1.06 billion excluding gold | -5.7% |
| 1993 | 719.76 million excluding gold | -32.4% |
| 1994 | 588.08 million excluding gold | -18.3% |
| 1995 | 1.83 billion excluding gold | +212.0% |
| 1996 | 1.82 billion excluding gold | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.82 billion excluding gold | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 5.45 billion excluding gold | +198.8% |
| 1999 | 4.30 billion excluding gold | -21.0% |
| 2000 | 6.38 billion excluding gold | +48.2% |
| 2001 | 6.15 billion excluding gold | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 6.00 billion excluding gold | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 6.10 billion excluding gold | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 8.27 billion excluding gold | +35.5% |
| 2005 | 14.15 billion excluding gold | +71.1% |
| 2006 | 20.61 billion excluding gold | +45.6% |
| 2007 | 23.85 billion excluding gold | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 30.62 billion excluding gold | +28.4% |
| 2009 | 30.38 billion excluding gold | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 37.50 billion excluding gold | +23.4% |
| 2011 | 43.51 billion excluding gold | +16.0% |
| 2012 | 43.98 billion excluding gold | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 43.57 billion excluding gold | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 44.35 billion excluding gold | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 41.66 billion excluding gold | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 41.80 billion excluding gold | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 41.55 billion excluding gold | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 44.65 billion excluding gold | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 44.45 billion excluding gold | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 45.98 billion excluding gold | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 46.20 billion excluding gold | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 50.39 billion excluding gold | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 53.87 billion excluding gold | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 53.41 billion excluding gold | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 54.86 billion excluding gold | +2.7% |
| 2026 | 59.26 billion excluding gold | +8.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 59.26 billion excluding gold is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.25 billion excluding gold, 8.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 59.26 billion excluding gold is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.30 billion excluding gold, 45.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 24_International reserves in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +212.0% | 588.08 million excluding gold | 1.83 billion excluding gold |
| 1998 | +198.8% | 1.82 billion excluding gold | 5.45 billion excluding gold |
| 2005 | +71.1% | 8.27 billion excluding gold | 14.15 billion excluding gold |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.98 billion excluding gold | 588.08 million excluding gold | 5.45 billion excluding gold | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.25 billion excluding gold | 6.00 billion excluding gold | 30.62 billion excluding gold | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.70 billion excluding gold | 37.50 billion excluding gold | 44.65 billion excluding gold | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.00 billion excluding gold | 45.98 billion excluding gold | 59.26 billion excluding gold | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 24_international reserves in South Africa?
- 24_international reserves in South Africa was 59.26 billion excluding gold in 2026, according to IMF.
- What is the highest 24_international reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 59.26 billion excluding gold in 2026.
- What is the lowest 24_international reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 588.08 million excluding gold in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for 24_international reserves?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 175 countries with data for 2026.
- Is 24_international reserves rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IMF, published as part of 24_International reserves (excluding gold). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The data on international reserve assets refer to entries published in the world tables of the IMF’s International Financial Statistics (IFS).