Debit Card Ownership Statistics in South Africa (2026)
According to World Bank Global Findex data, 59.8% of adults in South Africa owned a debit card in 2024. Up from 58.9% in 2021 to 59.8% in 2024 (+1 percentage points). South Africa ranks #2 of 36 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa on this measure, and #64 of 145 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 59.8% (2024)
- Debit Card Ownership in South Africa as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2021
- +1 pp (2024)
- Up from 58.9% in 2021 to 59.8% in 2024 (+1 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2011)
- 45.3% (2011)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 45.3% in 2011 to 59.8% in 2024.
- Record high (2024)
- 59.8% (2024)
- The 2024 value is the highest in the available World Bank Global Findex series for South Africa.
- Rank in Sub-Saharan Africa
- #2 of 36 (2024)
- South Africa ranks 2 of 36 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #64 of 145 (2024)
- South Africa ranks 64 of 145 countries with data globally.
- Sub-Saharan Africa average
- 16.3% (2024)
- South Africa (59.8%) is above the average of 16.3% across the 36 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data.
- Among women (2024)
- 61.3% (2024)
- Value for women in South Africa, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2024)
- 58.2% (2024)
- Value for men in South Africa, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- +3.1 pp (2024)
- In 2024, the figure was 61.3% for women and 58.2% for men — 3.1 percentage points higher among women.
- 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, 2011–2024
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59.8% | +1.0 pp |
| 2021 | 58.9% | +24.7 pp |
| 2017 | 34.1% | −20.7 pp |
| 2014 | 54.9% | +9.5 pp |
| 2011 | 45.3% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in South Africa owned a debit card?
59.8% of adults in South Africa owned a debit card in 2024, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
Is there a gender gap in debit card ownership in South Africa?
Yes — in 2024 the figure was 61.3% for women and 58.2% for men, a gap of 3.1 percentage points in favor of women.
How recent is the debit card ownership data for South Africa?
The most recent observation is from 2024. World Bank Global Findex data is reported with a lag, so 2024 is the latest available year for South Africa.
Where does the debit card ownership data for South Africa come from?
The data comes from the World Bank Global Findex (indicator fin2.t.d). The latest observation for South Africa is from 2024; the snapshot was retrieved on 2026-06-10.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
fin2.t.d, 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 .