Algeria ranks fifth in MENA region for combined gold and foreign exchange reserves
via Algérie3603 min read
Algeria has secured the fifth position in the Middle East and North Africa MENA region for combined gold and foreign exchange reserves, totaling $83.0 billion as of May 2026. This places Algeria ahead of several major economic players in the Gulf and its immediate vicinity, including Qatar $53.9 billion, Kuwait $50.7 billion, Egypt $44.9 billion, Morocco $37.1 billion, and Lebanon $33.3 billion. The data, compiled by Global Firepower, highlights Saudi Arabia at the top with $463.8 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates with $237.9 billion. Iraq holds third place with $100.6 billion, and Libya is fourth with $92.8 billion. A significant aspect of Algeria's financial standing is its complete absence of external debt. The country has not contracted any external loans since 2023, a trajectory noted by the International Monetary Fund IMF in its 2024 and 2025 reports. This positions Algeria as one of the few MENA countries with a zero external debt-to-GDP ratio, providing a strong macroeconomic shield. The valuation of Algeria's reserves includes physical gold holdings, calculated at $2,450 per ounce on the international market, contributing to the country's strategic financial strength amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
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