Total Reserves in South Africa
South Africa: Total Reserves was 75,892 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total Reserves in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in South Africa is 75,892, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.9% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in South Africa peaked at 75,892 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,203, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 34th of 165 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total Reserves in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,423 | — |
| 1991 | 2,973 | +22.7% |
| 1992 | 2,984 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 2,678 | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 3,130 | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 4,301 | +37.4% |
| 1996 | 2,203 | -48.8% |
| 1997 | 5,847 | +165.4% |
| 1998 | 5,506 | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 7,498 | +36.2% |
| 2000 | 7,692 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 7,629 | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 7,816 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 8,151 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 14,898 | +82.8% |
| 2005 | 20,650 | +38.6% |
| 2006 | 25,613 | +24.0% |
| 2007 | 32,979 | +28.8% |
| 2008 | 34,099 | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 39,706 | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 43,825 | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 48,855 | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 50,724 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 49,583 | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 49,091 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 45,780 | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 47,356 | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 50,722 | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 51,641 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 55,058 | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 55,013 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 57,589 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 60,570 | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 62,518 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 65,459 | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 75,892 | +15.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 75,892 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8,747, 8.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 75,892 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 835.83, 90.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +165.4% | 2,203 | 5,847 |
| 2004 | +82.8% | 8,151 | 14,898 |
| 1996 | -48.8% | 4,301 | 2,203 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,954 | 2,203 | 7,498 | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,923 | 7,629 | 39,706 | 10 |
| 2010s | 49,264 | 43,825 | 55,058 | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,840 | 55,013 | 75,892 | 6 |
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 total reserves in South Africa?
- Total reserves in South Africa was 75,892 in 2025, according to World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream data.
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 75,892 in 2025.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,203 in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for total reserves?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream data, published as part of Total Reserves. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total reserves comprise holdings of monetary gold, special drawing rights, reserves of IMF members held by the IMF, and holdings of foreign exchange under the control of monetary authorities.