Business Bank Credit Access Statistics in Ireland (2026)
42.7% of firms in Ireland had a bank loan or line of credit in 2024, World Bank World Development Indicators data show. Down from 44.8% in 2020 to 42.7% in 2024 (−2.1 percentage points). Ireland ranks #25 of 43 economies in Europe & Central Asia on this measure, and #50 of 145 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 42.7% (2024)
- Business Bank Credit Access in Ireland as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2020
- −2.1 pp (2024)
- Down from 44.8% in 2020 to 42.7% in 2024 (−2.1 percentage points).
- Peak value (2020)
- 44.8% (2020)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2024 value is 42.7%.
- Rank in Europe & Central Asia
- #25 of 43 (2024)
- Ireland ranks 25 of 43 countries in Europe & Central Asia with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #50 of 145 (2024)
- Ireland ranks 50 of 145 countries with data globally.
- Europe & Central Asia average
- 44.8% (2024)
- Ireland (42.7%) is below the average of 44.8% across the 43 countries in Europe & Central Asia with data.
- Firms using banks to finance working capital (% of firms) (2024)
- 17.9% (2024)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Firms using banks to finance investment (% of firms) (2024)
- 16.9% (2024)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Internet use in Ireland (2024)
- 97.2% (2024)
- 97.2% of the population in Ireland used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 5.4 million (2024)
- Ireland had a population of 5.4 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2020–2024
| Year | % of firms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42.7% | −2.1 pp |
| 2020 | 44.8% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of firms in Ireland had a bank loan or line of credit?
42.7% of firms in Ireland had a bank loan or line of credit in 2024, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
How has business bank credit access in Ireland changed over time?
World Bank World Development Indicators data show a decline from 44.8% in 2020 to 42.7% in 2024.
How does Ireland compare with other countries in Europe & Central Asia?
Ireland ranks 25 of 43 countries in Europe & Central Asia with data, with 42.7% versus a regional average of 44.8% (latest values per country).
Where does Ireland rank globally on business bank credit access?
Ireland ranks 50 of 145 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank World Development Indicators value for each country.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
IC.FRM.BNKL.ZS, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .