Maldives Ends 2024 with negative net reserves

Abstract

For the first time in its history, the Maldives' net international reserves fell below zero at the end of October 2024. This marks a critical point in the country’s external position and raises concerns about the adequacy of foreign currency liquidity.

External reserves are typically reported in two forms: Gross International Reserves (GIR) and Net International Reserves (NIR). Gross reserves, include all foreign currency assets held by the Central Bank. However, net reserves offer a more accurate reflection of external liquidity position as it excludes short-term foreign currency liabilities—such as currency swaps—that temporarily inflate the gross figure.