Bank cost to income ratio (%) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Bank cost to income ratio (%) was 38.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Bank cost to income ratio in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2021
Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 38.0% for bank cost to income ratio in 2021.
The figure is up 7.2% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bank cost to income ratio in Saudi Arabia peaked at 43.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 27.4%, in 2006.
That places Saudi Arabia 156th out of 169 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Bank cost to income ratio (%) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.9% | — |
| 2001 | 40.2% | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 40.5% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 37.9% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 34.1% | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 29.7% | -12.9% |
| 2006 | 27.4% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 36.5% | +17.3% |
| 2009 | 34.0% | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 35.4% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 36.4% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 35.2% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 35.5% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 35.1% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 35.4% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 36.5% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 35.1% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 34.3% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 38.0% | +7.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 38.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 56.2%, 68% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 38.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 47.1%, 81% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.5% | 27.4% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.3% | 34.3% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 35.5% | 38.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More financial sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 93.38 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 68.19 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0027 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 93.38 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bank cost to income ratio in Saudi Arabia?
- Bank cost to income ratio in Saudi Arabia was 38.0% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
- What is the highest bank cost to income ratio recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 43.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest bank cost to income ratio recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.4% in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for bank cost to income ratio?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 156th out of 169 countries with data for 2021.
- Is bank cost to income ratio rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD), published as part of Bank cost to income ratio (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Raw data are from Bankscope. Data2090 / (data2080 + data2085). All Numerator and denominator are first aggregated on the country level before division. Note that banks used in the calculation might differ between indicators. Calculated from underlying bank-by-bank unconsolidated data from Bankscope.