Samoa: Bank credit to the private sector

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Samoa

Bank credit to the private sector as percent of GDP

 Latest value 44.26
 Year 2023
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1970 - 2023
 Average 25.07
 Min - Max 4.84 - 54.07
 Source The World Bank
The latest value from 2023 is 44.26 percent, a decline from 53.37 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 51.31 percent, based on data from 140 countries. Historically, the average for Samoa from 1970 to 2023 is 25.07 percent. The minimum value, 4.84 percent, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 54.07 percent was recorded in 2021. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Samoa - Bank credit to the private sector - Recent values chart

Historical series
Samoa - Bank credit to the private sector - historical chart - 1970-2023




Bank credit in Samoa and other countries is defined as the credit extended by the banking institutions to the private sector only: both firms and households. It does not include lending to the government.

Credit is essential for the economy to function well. It funds new investments and allows people to purchase houses, cars, and other items. Of course, excessive lending and borrowing usually end up in financial crises but, in principle, credit availability is good for economic development.

If the banking credit to the private sector is about 70 percent of GDP and more, then the country has a relatively well developed financial system. The amount of credit can even exceed 200 percent of GDP in some very advanced economies. In some poor countries, the credit could be less than 15 percent of GDP. In these countries, firms and households essentially do not have access to credit for investment and various purchases.
Definition: Domestic credit to private sector by banks refers to financial resources provided to the private sector by other depository corporations (deposit taking corporations except central banks), such as through loans, purchases of nonequity securities, and trade credits and other accounts receivable, that establish a claim for repayment. For some countries these claims include credit to public enterprises.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 ATMs per 100,000 adults 61.96 2021 ATMs per 100,000 adults
 Bank accounts per 1000 adults 1,345.00 2020 bank accounts
 Bank branches per 100,000 people 24.08 2020 bank branches
 Firms using credit to finance investment 48.30 2009 percent
 Small firms with bank credit 45.30 2009 percent
 Domestic credit to the private sector 93.67 2020 percent
 Bank credit to the private sector 44.26 2023 percent
 Liquid liabilities, percent of GDP 51.93 2021 percent
 Bank assets to GDP 58.86 2021 percent
 Financial system deposits, percent of GDP 59.18 2021 percent
 Bank credit to government 1.01 2020 percent
 Banking system concentration 100.00 2006 percent
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