Bank return on equity (%, before tax) in China
China: Bank return on equity (%, before tax) was 12.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Bank return on equity in China, 2000–2021
Source: Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD). Measured in %, before tax.
Analysis
China recorded 12.2% for bank return on equity in 2021.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 27.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bank return on equity in China peaked at 28.5% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 2000.
That places China 87th out of 168 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Bank return on equity (%, before tax) in China, year by year
| Year | %, before tax | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.5% | — |
| 2001 | 14.3% | +36.1% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +37.5% |
| 2003 | 20.3% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 27.0% | +32.9% |
| 2005 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 22.8% | -15.6% |
| 2007 | 23.3% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | -21.2% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 23.6% | +17.2% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | -29.3% |
| 2012 | 28.5% | +71.0% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 24.3% | -8.9% |
| 2015 | 19.1% | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | -0.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.3%, 99% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- China's 12.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.2%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.3% | 10.5% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 13.6% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More financial sector data for China
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.8 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 14.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.95 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bank return on equity in China?
- Bank return on equity in China was 12.2% in 2021, according to Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD).
- What is the highest bank return on equity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 2012.
- What is the lowest bank return on equity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- How does China rank for bank return on equity?
- China ranks 87th out of 168 countries with data for 2021.
- Is bank return on equity rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Bankscope, Bureau van Dijk (BvD), published as part of Bank return on equity (%, before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Raw data are from Bankscope. Data10270[t] / ((data2055[t] + data2055[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.