Reserves in months of imports — all countries

Reserves in months of imports — Southern Africa

Reserves in months of imports in Southern Africa in 2024 — 5.44 months. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 51%.

2024 5.44 months +3.21% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 6.93 months2020
Period minimum 1.81 months1981

Trend over time

1980–2024 · months of imports

Reserves in months of imports — Southern Africa, 1980–20240246819801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 3.6 months1981: 1.81 months1992: 2.57 months1993: 2.67 months1994: 2.63 months1995: 2.55 months1996: 1.86 months1997: 3 months1998: 3.22 months1999: 4.01 months2000: 3.75 months2001: 3.9 months2002: 3.63 months2003: 2.78 months2004: 3.28 months2005: 3.68 months2006: 3.84 months2007: 4.13 months2008: 3.93 months2009: 5.85 months2010: 4.95 months2011: 4.53 months2012: 4.58 months2013: 4.54 months2014: 4.66 months2015: 4.98 months2016: 5.58 months2017: 5.43 months2018: 4.91 months2019: 5.44 months2020: 6.93 months2021: 5.46 months2022: 4.81 months2023: 5.27 months2024: 5.44 months
Change over the period: +1.84 (+50.99%) Average annual rate: 0.94 %

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 5.44 months
World 8.8 months
Reserves in months of imports — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year months Change Change, %
2024 5.44 +0.17 +3.21%
2023 5.27 +0.45 +9.42%
2022 4.81 −0.65 −11.89%
2021 5.46 −1.47 −21.21%
2020 6.93 +1.5 +27.53%
2019 5.44 +0.53 +10.85%
2018 4.91 −0.52 −9.64%
2017 5.43 −0.15 −2.75%
2016 5.58 +0.6 +12.15%
2015 4.98 +0.32 +6.87%
2014 4.66 +0.12 +2.65%
2013 4.54 −0.04 −0.87%
2012 4.58 +0.05 +1.03%
2011 4.53 −0.42 −8.49%
2010 4.95 −0.9 −15.33%
2009 5.85 +1.92 +48.82%
2008 3.93 −0.2 −4.95%
2007 4.13 +0.3 +7.74%
2006 3.84 +0.15 +4.18%
2005 3.68 +0.4 +12.18%
2004 3.28 +0.5 +18%
2003 2.78 −0.85 −23.34%
2002 3.63 −0.27 −6.89%
2001 3.9 +0.14 +3.83%
2000 3.75 −0.26 −6.47%
1999 4.01 +0.79 +24.49%
1998 3.22 +0.23 +7.58%
1997 3 +1.13 +60.79%
1996 1.86 −0.69 −27.01%
1995 2.55 −0.07 −2.8%
1994 2.63 −0.04 −1.68%
1993 2.67 +0.1 +4.02%
1992 2.57
1981 1.81 −1.79 −49.78%
1980 3.6

About the indicator

The ratio of international reserves to average monthly imports of goods and services. The commonly accepted minimum benchmark of adequacy is three months of imports; below that level a country becomes vulnerable to external shocks and to a halt in the inflow of capital.

Important: The aggregate is weighted by imports: all of the reserves of a group divided by its average monthly imports. Weighting by population or GDP will not do here — imports are precisely what stands in the denominator of the indicator.

Source: World Economic Outlook (IMF), license IMF open data.