Bhutan: Bank capital to assets ratio (%)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Bhutan's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.52 percentage points on 2023 (from 8.42% to 7.9%).

Across the 13 yearly changes before that (2011 to 2023), the average change was +0.02 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.8 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3.93 percentage points in 2011 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.38 percentage points in 2014. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.66 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 86% 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 2024, Bhutan had the 23rd highest value of the 30 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 Bhutan in the 2024 ranking

• Austria — 19th of 30: 8.54%
• El Salvador — 20th of 30: 8.38%
• Djibouti — 21st of 30: 7.92%
• South Africa — 23rd of 30: 7.81%
• Madagascar — 24th of 30: 7.46%
• Israel — 25th of 30: 7.31%

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 15 values

Bank capital to assets ratio (%) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 2.29% (2024)
• India — 8.52% (2025)
• Maldives — 17.42% (2025)
• Nepal — 6.01% (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 6.92% (2025)

More financial sector data for Bhutan

• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$87.16 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$87.16 (2025)
• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 140.94 (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — 3.16% (2025)
• Consumer price index (2010 = 100) — 225.79 (2025)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 3.56% (2025)
• Deposit interest rate (%) — 4.5% (2025)
• Lending interest rate (%) — 11.76% (2025)
• Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) — 7.26% (2025)
• Real interest rate (%)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

7.9% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2010?

It is down 0.19 percentage points from 8.09% in 2010. The highest value was 15.34% in 2013 and the lowest 7.78% in 2022.

How does Bhutan rank?

23rd highest of 30 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Bhutan's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.52 percentage points on 2023 (from 8.42% to 7.9%). Across the 13 yearly changes before that (2011 to 2023), the average change was +0.02 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.8 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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