How does South Africa rank for share of adults with an account at a financial institution?

South Africa ranks 55th out of 115 countries with data for 2024.

Is share of adults with an account at a financial institution rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Africa data come from?

The figures come from Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults with an account at a financial institution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa

Name: Share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa
Creator: Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Share of adults with an account at a financial institution was 81.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)

81.1%

Change on year

down 5.0%

World rank

55th

of 115 countries

All-time high

85.4%

in 2021

All-time low

53.6%

in 2011

Years of data

2011–2024

Share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa, 2011–2024

Source: Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % age 15+.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 81.1% for share of adults with an account at a financial institution in 2024.

That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa peaked at 85.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 53.6%, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 55th of 115 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
2010s	64.4%	53.6%	70.3%	3
2020s	83.3%	81.1%	85.4%	2

Countries ranked near South Africa

52 Sri Lanka 81.7% compare
53 Turkey 81.6% compare
54 Ghana 81.2% compare
56 Russia 79.3% compare
57 Saudi Arabia 78.8% compare
58 Georgia 78.8% compare

See the full ranking of 115 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa?: Share of adults with an account at a financial institution in South Africa was 81.1% in 2024, according to Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of adults with an account at a financial institution recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 85.4% in 2021.
What is the lowest share of adults with an account at a financial institution recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 53.6% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for share of adults with an account at a financial institution?: South Africa ranks 55th out of 115 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of adults with an account at a financial institution rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?: The figures come from Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults with an account at a financial institution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Share of adults with an account at a financial institution
Unit: % age 15+
Source: Global Findex Database - World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 115 places, 575 data points, 2011–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The share of respondents aged 15 and older, who report having an account (by themselves or with someone else) at a bank or another type of financial institution.