Bank return on assets (%, before tax) in Australia
Australia: Bank return on assets (%, before tax) was 0.9% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Bank return on assets in Australia, 2000–2021
Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %, before tax.
Analysis
The most recent figure for bank return on assets in Australia is 0.9%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 51.9% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bank return on assets in Australia peaked at 2.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -0.6%, in 2001.
Australia ranks 126th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Bank return on assets (%, before tax) in Australia, year by year
| Year | %, before tax | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | -0.6% | -164.4% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -219.4% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +76.3% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | +123.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -47.5% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -28.5% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -19.6% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | +34.9% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -11.8% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -24.3% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -29.4% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | +51.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 92% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 88% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.1% | -0.6% | 2.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More financial sector data for Australia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 11.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 83.74 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 61.14 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 11.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 83.74 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 6.56 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bank return on assets in Australia?
- Bank return on assets in Australia was 0.9% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
- What is the highest bank return on assets recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest bank return on assets recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.6% in 2001.
- How does Australia rank for bank return on assets?
- Australia ranks 126th out of 168 countries with data for 2021.
- Is bank return on assets rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD), published as part of Bank return on assets (%, before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Raw data are from Bankscope. Data10270[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.