Bank cost to income ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Bank cost to income ratio was 61.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Bank cost to income ratio in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 61.0% for bank cost to income ratio in 2021.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bank cost to income ratio in South Africa peaked at 64.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 50.4%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 51st of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Bank cost to income ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51.6% | — |
| 2001 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 64.1% | +24.4% |
| 2005 | 63.2% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 58.9% | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 54.9% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 50.4% | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 52.6% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 57.9% | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 57.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 55.0% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 55.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 56.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 59.4% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 58.8% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 61.4% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 63.1% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 61.0% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.9% | 50.4% | 64.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 58.5% | 55.0% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.0% | 61.0% | 63.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Costa Rica 62.4% compare
- 49 Chinese Taipei 61.7% compare
- 50 Netherlands 61.2% compare
- 52 Estonia 61.0% compare
- 53 Japan 60.6% compare
- 54 Trinidad and Tobago 60.4% compare
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 10.08 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bank cost to income ratio in South Africa?
- Bank cost to income ratio in South Africa was 61.0% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
- What is the highest bank cost to income ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 2004.
- What is the lowest bank cost to income ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.4% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for bank cost to income ratio?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 169 countries with data for 2021.
- Is bank cost to income ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.