Gabon: Bank capital to assets ratio (%)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Gabon's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.47 percentage points on 2022 (from 9.06% to 8.59%).

Across the 12 yearly changes before that (2011 to 2022), the average change was −0.07 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.72 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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 3.03 percentage points in 2017 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.21 percentage points in 2011. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.58 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 66% 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 2023, Gabon had the 6th highest value of the 12 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 Gabon in the 2023 ranking

• Trinidad and Tobago — 3rd of 12: 11.92%
• Central African Republic — 4th of 12: 11.12%
• Congo, Rep. — 5th of 12: 8.86%
• West Bank and Gaza — 7th of 12: 8.51%
• Russian Federation — 8th of 12: 8.08%
• Cameroon — 9th of 12: 6.65%

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 14 values

Bank capital to assets ratio (%) in nearby economies

• Angola — 11.95% (2024)
• Botswana — 9.48% (2025)
• Cameroon — 6.65% (2023)
• Central African Republic — 11.12% (2023)
• Chad — -1.04% (2023)
• Comoros — 8.85% (2022)
• Congo, Rep. — 8.86% (2023)
• Equatorial Guinea — -6.4% (2023)
• Eswatini — 11.4% (2025)
• Gambia, The — 12.15% (2022)
• Ghana

More financial sector data for Gabon

• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 194.77 (2025)
• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$581.93 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$581.93 (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — -3.96% (2025)
• Consumer price index (2010 = 100) — 139.73 (2025)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 1.77% (2025)
• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 13.35% (2019)
• Net domestic credit (current LCU) — 2.41 trillion (2019)
• Net foreign assets (current LCU) — 481.13 billion (2019)
• Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

8.59% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2010?

It is down 1.29 percentage points from 9.87% in 2010. The highest value was 10.16% in 2021 and the lowest 4.51% in 2015.

How does Gabon rank?

6th highest of 12 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, Gabon's bank capital to assets ratio (%) fell 0.47 percentage points on 2022 (from 9.06% to 8.59%). Across the 12 yearly changes before that (2011 to 2022), the average change was −0.07 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.72 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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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