Total reserves minus gold (current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Total reserves minus gold (current US$) was 58.40 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves minus gold in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 58.40 billion current US$ for total reserves minus gold in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves minus gold in South Africa peaked at 58.40 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 91.00 million current US$, in 1960.
That places South Africa 37th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves minus gold (current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 91.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 95.01 million current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 147.50 million current US$ | +55.2% |
| 1963 | 143.50 million current US$ | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 130.51 million current US$ | -9.1% |
| 1965 | 174.51 million current US$ | +33.7% |
| 1966 | 194.02 million current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1967 | 196.02 million current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 228.16 million current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1969 | 283.16 million current US$ | +24.1% |
| 1970 | 345.53 million current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1971 | 265.94 million current US$ | -23.0% |
| 1972 | 608.93 million current US$ | +129.0% |
| 1973 | 448.87 million current US$ | -26.3% |
| 1974 | 377.05 million current US$ | -16.0% |
| 1975 | 488.83 million current US$ | +29.6% |
| 1976 | 425.23 million current US$ | -13.0% |
| 1977 | 416.03 million current US$ | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 423.16 million current US$ | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 434.46 million current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 725.84 million current US$ | +67.1% |
| 1981 | 666.22 million current US$ | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 485.32 million current US$ | -27.2% |
| 1983 | 822.83 million current US$ | +69.5% |
| 1984 | 241.87 million current US$ | -70.6% |
| 1985 | 314.56 million current US$ | +30.1% |
| 1986 | 370.02 million current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1987 | 640.66 million current US$ | +73.1% |
| 1988 | 780.10 million current US$ | +21.8% |
| 1989 | 959.77 million current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1990 | 1.01 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 898.76 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1992 | 991.62 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1993 | 1.02 billion current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 1.69 billion current US$ | +65.3% |
| 1995 | 2.82 billion current US$ | +67.3% |
| 1996 | 941.56 million current US$ | -66.6% |
| 1997 | 4.80 billion current US$ | +409.7% |
| 1998 | 4.36 billion current US$ | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 6.35 billion current US$ | +45.8% |
| 2000 | 6.08 billion current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 6.05 billion current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 5.90 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 6.50 billion current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 13.14 billion current US$ | +102.3% |
| 2005 | 18.58 billion current US$ | +41.4% |
| 2006 | 23.06 billion current US$ | +24.1% |
| 2007 | 29.59 billion current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2008 | 30.58 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 35.24 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2010 | 38.18 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 42.60 billion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 44.00 billion current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 44.86 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 44.27 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 41.62 billion current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 42.57 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 45.50 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 46.48 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 48.92 billion current US$ | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 47.39 billion current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 50.26 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 53.25 billion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 54.18 billion current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 54.91 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 58.40 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 58.40 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.30 billion current US$, 9.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 58.40 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.17 billion current US$, 50.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves minus gold (current US$) 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 | +409.7% | 941.56 million current US$ | 4.80 billion current US$ |
| 1972 | +129.0% | 265.94 million current US$ | 608.93 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 168.34 million current US$ | 91.00 million current US$ | 283.16 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 423.40 million current US$ | 265.94 million current US$ | 608.93 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 600.72 million current US$ | 241.87 million current US$ | 959.77 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.49 billion current US$ | 898.76 million current US$ | 6.35 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.47 billion current US$ | 5.90 billion current US$ | 35.24 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.90 billion current US$ | 38.18 billion current US$ | 48.92 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.06 billion current US$ | 47.39 billion current US$ | 58.40 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves minus gold in South Africa?
- Total reserves minus gold in South Africa was 58.40 billion current US$ in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves minus gold recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 58.40 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest total reserves minus gold recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.00 million current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for total reserves minus gold?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total reserves minus gold rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves minus gold (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This series includes external assets (excluding 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 in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.