Bank return on assets (%, before tax) in Iceland
Iceland: Bank return on assets (%, before tax) was 2.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Bank return on assets in Iceland, 2001–2021
Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %, before tax.
Analysis
In 2021, bank return on assets in Iceland stood at 2.3%.
The figure is up 113.0% on the previous year and down 69.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bank return on assets in Iceland peaked at 38.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -17.7%, in 2009.
That places Iceland 28th out of 168 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Bank return on assets (%, before tax) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | %, before tax | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.8% | — |
| 2009 | -17.7% | -2331.9% |
| 2010 | -2.0% | -88.9% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | -488.1% |
| 2012 | 12.9% | +70.0% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | -75.7% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -27.5% |
| 2015 | 38.9% | +1610.4% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -93.1% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -23.8% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -26.2% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | -27.1% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +113.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 2.5× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.0%, 2.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Bank return on assets (%, before tax) in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | -2331.9% | 0.8% | -17.7% |
| 2015 | +1610.4% | 2.3% | 38.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -8.4% | -17.7% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | -2.0% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More financial sector data for Iceland
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 243.62 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 177.89 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0025 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 243.62 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bank return on assets in Iceland?
- Bank return on assets in Iceland was 2.3% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
- What is the highest bank return on assets recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 38.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest bank return on assets recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.7% in 2009.
- How does Iceland rank for bank return on assets?
- Iceland ranks 28th out of 168 countries with data for 2021.
- Is bank return on assets rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.