Risk premium on lending in South Africa
South Africa: Risk premium on lending was 3.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Risk premium on lending in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in lending rate minus treasury bill rate, %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for risk premium on lending in South Africa is 3.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, risk premium on lending in South Africa peaked at 5.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 48th of 86 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Risk premium on lending in South Africa, year by year
| Year | lending rate minus treasury bill rate, % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.6% | — |
| 1961 | 2.6% | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 3.4% | +32.8% |
| 1963 | 3.5% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | -17.7% |
| 1965 | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | +14.7% |
| 1967 | 3.4% | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 3.4% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 3.4% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 3.8% | +11.4% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | -8.5% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 4.9% | +39.2% |
| 1974 | 4.7% | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 5.7% | +19.7% |
| 1976 | 4.8% | -15.1% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 4.3% | -6.7% |
| 1979 | 4.7% | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 4.9% | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | -13.6% |
| 1982 | 3.7% | -10.8% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | -13.9% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -6.9% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | +31.2% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | -12.7% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -9.2% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | +13.3% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +41.5% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -14.7% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +12.0% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -11.5% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | +11.9% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -6.1% |
| 2025 | 3.5% | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.4% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 3.2% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 risk premium on lending in South Africa?
- Risk premium on lending in South Africa was 3.5% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest risk premium on lending recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest risk premium on lending recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for risk premium on lending?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 86 countries with data for 2025.
- Is risk premium on lending rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Risk premium on lending (lending rate minus treasury bill rate, %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Risk premium on lending is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the "risk free" treasury bill interest rate at which short-term government securities are issued or traded in the market. In some countries this spread may be negative, indicating that the market considers its best corporate clients to be lower risk than the government. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.