Argentina: Bank capital to assets ratio (%)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Argentina's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.89 percentage points on 2024 (from 20.6% to 19.71%).

Across the 19 yearly changes before that (2006 to 2024), the average change was +0.6 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.46 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3.58 percentage points in 2023 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.54 percentage points in 2018. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1.42 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 90% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Argentina had the 2nd highest value of the 81 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Argentina in the 2025 ranking

• Maldives — 2nd of 81: 17.42%
• Georgia — 3rd of 81: 15.19%
• Tonga — 4th of 81: 15.08%

What this measures

The indicator is a measure of capital adequacy that evaluates the financial strength of deposit takers by comparing Tier 1 capital to total assets. Tier 1 capital, often referred to as core capital, includes the most stable and readily available forms of capital, such as common equity, disclosed reserves, retained earnings, and certain other instruments that meet regulatory requirements under the Basel framework. This capital is considered the highest quality because it is fully available to cover losses and does not need to be repaid.

Limitations: Reporting countries compile the data using different methodologies, which may also vary for different points in time for the same country. Users are advised to consult the accompanying metadata on the IMF FSI website (data.imf.org) to conduct more meaningful cross-country comparisons or to assess the evolution of the indicator for any of the countries.

All 21 values

Bank capital to assets ratio (%) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 12.78% (2025)
• Bolivia — 7.04% (2024)
• Brazil — 8.35% (2025)
• Chile — 9.06% (2025)
• Colombia — 10.14% (2025)
• Costa Rica — 10.77% (2025)
• Dominica — 10.54% (2025)
• Ecuador — 10.85% (2020)
• El Salvador — 8.38% (2024)
• Grenada — 11.24% (2025)
• Guatemala — 6.99% (2025)

More financial sector data for Argentina

• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 15.83% (2025)
• Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) — 15.83% (2025)
• Broad money (current LCU) — 222.74 trillion (2025)
• Broad money (% of GDP) — 26.28% (2025)
• Broad money to total reserves ratio — 4.38 (2025)
• Claims on central government, etc. (% of GDP) — 23% (2025)
• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 114,690 (2025)
• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$1,241 (2025)
• Claims on central government (annual growth as % of broad money) — 36.7% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Argentina's bank capital to assets ratio (%)?

19.71% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2005?

It is up 10.46 percentage points from 9.25% in 2005. The highest value was 20.6% in 2024 and the lowest 6.87% in 2011.

How does Argentina rank?

2nd highest of 81 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in bank capital to assets ratio (%) unusual for Argentina?

In 2025, Argentina's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.89 percentage points on 2024 (from 20.6% to 19.71%). Across the 19 yearly changes before that (2006 to 2024), the average change was +0.6 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.46 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator FB.BNK.CAPA.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Financial Soundness Indicators, International Monetary Fund (IMF), uri: https://data.imf.org/en/datasets/IMF:EXTERNAL_DATASET_CARDS/IMF.STA:LFSI Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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