Commercial bank branches in South Africa

South Africa: Commercial bank branches was 7.98 per 100,000 adults in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
7.98 per 100,000 adults
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
118th
of 184 countries
All-time high
10.5 per 100,000 adults
in 2014
All-time low
4.55 per 100,000 adults
in 2004
Years of data
21
2004–2024

Commercial bank branches in South Africa, 2004–2024

02.557.5102004201420242004: 4.5 per 100,000 adults2005: 6.8 per 100,000 adults2006: 7 per 100,000 adults2007: 5.7 per 100,000 adults2008: 7.5 per 100,000 adults2009: 8.8 per 100,000 adults2010: 9.5 per 100,000 adults2011: 10 per 100,000 adults2012: 9.7 per 100,000 adults2013: 9.8 per 100,000 adults2014: 10.5 per 100,000 adults2015: 10 per 100,000 adults2016: 9.8 per 100,000 adults2017: 10.2 per 100,000 adults2018: 9.8 per 100,000 adults2019: 9.2 per 100,000 adults2020: 8.8 per 100,000 adults2021: 8.9 per 100,000 adults2022: 8.5 per 100,000 adults2023: 8.1 per 100,000 adults2024: 8 per 100,000 adults

Source: IMF Financial Access Survey, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100,000 adults.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 7.98 per 100,000 adults for commercial bank branches in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, commercial bank branches in South Africa peaked at 10.5 per 100,000 adults in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.55 per 100,000 adults, in 2004.

South Africa ranks 118th of 184 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Commercial bank branches in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Commercial bank branches in South Africa, 2004 to 2024.
Year per 100,000 adults Change
2004 4.55 per 100,000 adults
2005 6.79 per 100,000 adults +49.4%
2006 7.02 per 100,000 adults +3.3%
2007 5.72 per 100,000 adults -18.5%
2008 7.47 per 100,000 adults +30.5%
2009 8.83 per 100,000 adults +18.2%
2010 9.52 per 100,000 adults +7.8%
2011 9.98 per 100,000 adults +4.8%
2012 9.66 per 100,000 adults -3.2%
2013 9.79 per 100,000 adults +1.3%
2014 10.5 per 100,000 adults +7.2%
2015 10.04 per 100,000 adults -4.4%
2016 9.82 per 100,000 adults -2.1%
2017 10.16 per 100,000 adults +3.4%
2018 9.84 per 100,000 adults -3.1%
2019 9.23 per 100,000 adults -6.3%
2020 8.81 per 100,000 adults -4.6%
2021 8.89 per 100,000 adults +1.0%
2022 8.48 per 100,000 adults -4.7%
2023 8.08 per 100,000 adults -4.6%
2024 7.98 per 100,000 adults -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 6.73 per 100,000 adults 4.55 per 100,000 adults 8.83 per 100,000 adults 6
2010s 9.85 per 100,000 adults 9.23 per 100,000 adults 10.5 per 100,000 adults 10
2020s 8.45 per 100,000 adults 7.98 per 100,000 adults 8.89 per 100,000 adults 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 115 Ecuador 8.04 per 100,000 adults compare
  2. 116 Thailand 8.02 per 100,000 adults compare
  3. 117 Guyana 7.98 per 100,000 adults compare
  4. 119 Botswana 7.95 per 100,000 adults compare
  5. 120 Namibia 7.91 per 100,000 adults compare
  6. 121 Malaysia 7.72 per 100,000 adults compare

See the full ranking of 184 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is commercial bank branches in South Africa?
Commercial bank branches in South Africa was 7.98 per 100,000 adults in 2024, according to IMF Financial Access Survey, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest commercial bank branches recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 10.5 per 100,000 adults in 2014.
What is the lowest commercial bank branches recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.55 per 100,000 adults in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for commercial bank branches?
South Africa ranks 118th out of 184 countries with data for 2024.
Is commercial bank branches rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from IMF Financial Access Survey, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Commercial bank branches. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Commercial bank branches in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on IMF Financial Access Survey, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-commercial-bank-branches-per-100000-adults/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Commercial bank branches
Unit
per 100,000 adults
Source
IMF Financial Access Survey, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
184 places, 3,628 data points, 2004–2024
Last refreshed

Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults. Commercial bank branches are retail locations of resident commercial banks and other resident banks that function as commercial banks to provide financial services to customers.