Bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa

South Africa: Bank overhead costs to total assets was 2.9% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
2.9%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
57th
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.8%
in 2006
All-time low
2.4%
in 2008
Years of data
19
2000–2021

Bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa, 2000–2021

012342000201020212000: 2.8 %2001: 3.1 %2005: 3.7 %2006: 3.8 %2007: 3.2 %2008: 2.4 %2009: 2.9 %2010: 3.1 %2011: 3 %2012: 3 %2013: 2.9 %2014: 3.2 %2015: 2.8 %2016: 3.3 %2017: 3.6 %2018: 3.2 %2019: 3.3 %2020: 2.8 %2021: 2.9 %

Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa is 2.9%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa peaked at 3.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2008.

South Africa ranks 57th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Bank overhead costs to total assets (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year % Change
2000 2.8%
2001 3.1% +11.8%
2005 3.7% +19.0%
2006 3.8% +2.2%
2007 3.2% -14.3%
2008 2.4% -24.3%
2009 2.9% +17.0%
2010 3.1% +10.0%
2011 3.0% -5.8%
2012 3.0% +1.9%
2013 2.9% -4.1%
2014 3.2% +10.6%
2015 2.8% -11.4%
2016 3.3% +15.0%
2017 3.6% +8.8%
2018 3.2% -9.7%
2019 3.3% +2.9%
2020 2.8% -13.6%
2021 2.9% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.1% 2.4% 3.8% 7
2010s 3.1% 2.8% 3.6% 10
2020s 2.9% 2.8% 2.9% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 54 Mali 3.1% compare
  2. 55 Saint Lucia 3.0% compare
  3. 56 San Marino 3.0% compare
  4. 58 Uruguay 2.8% compare
  5. 59 Indonesia 2.8% compare
  6. 60 Haiti 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More financial sector data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa?
Bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa was 2.9% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
What is the highest bank overhead costs to total assets recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2006.
What is the lowest bank overhead costs to total assets recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2008.
How does South Africa rank for bank overhead costs to total assets?
South Africa ranks 57th out of 168 countries with data for 2021.
Is bank overhead costs to total assets rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD), published as part of Bank overhead costs to total assets (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Bank overhead costs to total assets in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://financial-sector.statizoid.com/stat/bank-overhead-costs-to-total-assets-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Bank overhead costs to total assets (%)
Unit
%
Source
Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
168 places, 3,204 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Raw data are from Bankscope. Data2090[t] / ((data2025[t] + data2025[t-1])/2). 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.