Bank Interest Rate Spread Statistics in South Africa (2026)
South Africa recorded the bank interest rate spread of 3.7 percentage points in 2024, World Bank World Development Indicators data show. Down from 4.8 percentage points in 2023 to 3.7 percentage points in 2024 (−1.1 percentage points). South Africa ranks #4 of 25 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa on this measure, and #30 of 105 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 3.7 percentage points (2024)
- Bank Interest Rate Spread in South Africa as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2023
- −1.1 pp (2024)
- Down from 4.8 percentage points in 2023 to 3.7 percentage points in 2024 (−1.1 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2001)
- 4.8 percentage points (2001)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 4.8 percentage points in 2001 to 3.7 percentage points in 2024.
- Peak value (2003)
- 5.2 percentage points (2003)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2024 value is 3.7 percentage points.
- Rank in Sub-Saharan Africa (lower is better; rank 1 = lowest)
- #4 of 25 (2024)
- South Africa ranks 4 of 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data, based on each country's latest value. Ranked ascending because lower values are better for this metric.
- Global rank (lower is better; rank 1 = lowest)
- #30 of 105 (2024)
- South Africa ranks 30 of 105 countries with data globally. Ranked ascending because lower values are better for this metric.
- Sub-Saharan Africa average
- 11.3 percentage points (2024)
- South Africa (3.7 percentage points) is below the average of 11.3 percentage points across the 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data.
- Lending interest rate (%) (2024)
- 11.6% (2024)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Deposit interest rate (%) (2024)
- 7.9% (2024)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Internet use in South Africa (2024)
- 78.4% (2024)
- 78.4% of the population in South Africa used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 64 million (2024)
- South Africa had a population of 64 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2001–2024
| Year | percentage points | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.7 | −23.6% |
| 2023 | 4.8 | +30.2% |
| 2022 | 3.7 | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 3.2 | +14.1% |
| 2020 | 2.8 | −9.3% |
| 2019 | 3.1 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 3.1 | −1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.1 | −4.8% |
| 2016 | 3.3 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 3.3 | −1.8% |
| 2014 | 3.3 | −0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.3 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 3.3 | −0.4% |
| 2011 | 3.3 | −1.2% |
| 2010 | 3.4 | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 3.2 | −9.7% |
| 2008 | 3.5 | −12.4% |
| 2007 | 4 | −0.3% |
| 2006 | 4 | −12.1% |
| 2005 | 4.6 | −3.3% |
| 2004 | 4.7 | −8.9% |
| 2003 | 5.2 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 5 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 4.8 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest figure for bank interest rate spread in South Africa?
The bank interest rate spread in South Africa stood at 3.7 percentage points in 2024, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
Where does South Africa rank globally on bank interest rate spread?
South Africa ranks 30 of 105 countries with data globally (ranked ascending; lower is better), based on the latest World Bank World Development Indicators value for each country.
When did bank interest rate spread in South Africa peak?
The highest value in the available series was 5.2 percentage points in 2003; the latest (2024) value is 3.7 percentage points.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
FR.INR.LNDP, 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 .