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Indicators · Banking and capital markets

Commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults

Branches of commercial banks per 100,000 adults (IMF Financial Access Survey, via the World Bank).

Why it matters

Shows how far banks reach beyond the main cities, and so how much of the market is left to agent networks and digital channels.

Read with care

Branch closures can reflect a shift to digital banking rather than a retreat.

Source

World Bank

per 100,000 adults. 52 African countries, 2004 to 2024.

Bank branches: highest in Seychelles, lowest in DRC

Commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults, per 100,000 adults. Latest year available, mostly 2024. 16 of 16 countries have data.

2.5
3.5
6
7.9
No data
Loading map…
Source: World Bank· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Ranked: bank branchesiWhy it mattersShows how far banks reach beyond the main cities, and so how much of the market is left to agent networks and digital channels.

Click a country to highlight it.

0102030Seychelles31.9Mauritius14.2South Africa8.0Botswana7.9Namibia7.9Angola6.8Eswatini6.0Zimbabwe5.5Comoros5.1Lesotho3.5Mozambique3.5Madagascar2.7Zambia2.5Tanzania2.4Malawi1.7DRC0.6 (2019)median 5.3
dotzedw Insights Centre
How spread out SADC is
Median 5.3Log scaleLowest: DRC 0.6Highest: Seychelles 31.9

Over time

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Commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults against income per person

Each bubble is a SADC country, sized by population. Dashed lines mark the SADC medians. Countries far from the pattern are worth a closer look.

0.05.010.015.020.025.030.035.0$1,000$3,000$10kGDP per person, US$ (log scale)Bank branchesDRCTanzaniaSouth AfricaAngolaMadagascarZimbabweNamibiaBotswana
Source: World Bank, World Bank·dotzedw Insights Centre

Table

The same figures as the map, for screen readers and copying.
RankCountryValueYearFive-year changeGradeDetails
1Seychelles31.92024down 25% since 2019A
2Mauritius14.22024down 13% since 2019A
3South Africa8.02024down 14% since 2019A
4Botswana7.92024down 14% since 2019A
5Namibia7.92024down 25% since 2019A
6Angola6.82024down 24% since 2019A
7Eswatini6.02024down 2% since 2019A
8Zimbabwe5.52024up 51% since 2019A
9Comoros5.12024up 31% since 2019A
10Lesotho3.52024down 8% since 2019A
11Mozambique3.52024down 25% since 2019A
12Madagascar2.72024up 15% since 2019A
13Zambia2.52024down 20% since 2019A
14Tanzania2.42024down 9% since 2019A
15Malawi1.72024down 24% since 2019A
16DRC0.62019down 15% since 2014B