Zambia: Bank capital to assets ratio (%)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Zambia's bank capital to assets ratio (%) rose 1.19 percentage points on 2024 (from 11.41% to 12.6%).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2024), the average change was −0.22 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 4.02 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above 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 5.49 percentage points in 2010 and the biggest yearly fall was 13.98 percentage points in 2009. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains less than 1% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

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

How it compares

In 2025, Zambia had the 15th 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 Zambia in the 2025 ranking

• Mozambique — 12th of 81: 12.88%
• Antigua and Barbuda — 13th of 81: 12.78%
• Belarus — 14th of 81: 12.74%
• Tanzania — 16th of 81: 12.45%
• North Macedonia — 17th of 81: 12.31%
• Moldova — 18th of 81: 11.64%

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 19 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)
• Gabon — 8.59% (2023)
• Gambia, The

More financial sector data for Zambia

• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 415.22 (2025)
• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$25.13 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$25.28 (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — 5.63% (2025)
• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 13.68% (2025)
• Net domestic credit (current LCU) — 172.45 billion (2025)
• Net foreign assets (current LCU) — 85.43 billion (2025)
• Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) — 13.72% (2025)
• Broad money (current LCU) — 223.14 billion (2025)
• Broad money (% of GDP)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

12.6% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2007?

It is down 2.62 percentage points from 15.22% in 2007. The highest value was 17.48% in 2008 and the lowest 3.5% in 2009.

How does Zambia rank?

15th highest of 81 economies with data for 2025.

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

In 2025, Zambia's bank capital to assets ratio (%) rose 1.19 percentage points on 2024 (from 11.41% to 12.6%). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2024), the average change was −0.22 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 4.02 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations above 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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