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Lending interest rate
What this indicator measures
The rate banks charge their customers for a loan.
How to read this?
The higher it is, the more expensive it is to borrow.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
Lending interest rate: across 146 countries and territories, values range from 0 % (New Zealand) to 60 % (Madagascar), with a world median of 8.5 %. Data: 1988–2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 20.5 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 4.5 %. By continent, the median is highest in South America (12.6 %) and lowest in Europe (5.6 %).
Median by continent
- South America 12.6 % (11)
- Africa 12.4 % (39)
- Asia 8.6 % (38)
- Oceania 7.6 % (9)
- North America 7 % (22)
- Europe 5.6 % (24)
Why this indicator matters
The lending interest rate is the price customers pay to borrow from banks. It lets you compare the cost of credit across countries, for households and businesses alike. It influences home buying, investment and growth.
What makes this indicator vary
It follows the rate set by the central bank and inflation: the more prices rise, the more loans cost. The risk of non-repayment, the strength of banks and competition among them also play a role. An underdeveloped financial system often leads to higher rates.
Reading precautions
This rate is an average that varies with the type of loan, its term and the borrower's profile. The definitions used by each country are not always identical. It should also be compared with inflation to know what borrowing really costs.
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 60 % | 2025 |
| 2e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 46.4 % | 2025 |
| 3e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 46 % | 2025 |
| 4e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 45.3 % | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 37.1 % | 2024 |
| 6e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 33.7 % | 1988 |
| 7e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 24.3 % | 2024 |
| 8e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 24.1 % | 2025 |
| 9e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 23.5 % | 2019 |
| 10e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 23.1 % | 2024 |
| 11e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 22.6 % | 2010 |
| 12e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 22.1 % | 2013 |
| 13e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 22 % | 2025 |
| 14e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 21.4 % | 2025 |
| 15e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 21.1 % | 2017 |
| 16e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 19.8 % | 2018 |
| 17e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 19.8 % | 2024 |
| 18e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 19.7 % | 2025 |
| 19e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 19.4 % | 2025 |
| 20e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 18.6 % | 2025 |
| 21e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 18.5 % | 2025 |
| 22e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 18 % | 2016 |
| 23e | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 17.7 % | 2025 |
| 24e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 17.5 % | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 17.1 % | 2024 |
| 26e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 17 % | 2017 |
| 27e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 16.7 % | 2020 |
| 28e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 16.6 % | 2024 |
| 29e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 16 % | 2024 |
| 30e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 16 % | 2021 |
| 31e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 15.9 % | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 15.3 % | 2025 |
| 33e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 15.3 % | 2024 |
| 34e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 14.8 % | 2017 |
| 35e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 14.8 % | 2020 |
| 36e | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 14.5 % | 2025 |
| 37e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 14.3 % | 2025 |
| 38e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 13.8 % | 2025 |
| 39e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 13 % | 2025 |
| 40e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 13 % | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 12.9 % | 2001 |
| 42e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 12.9 % | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 12.6 % | 2021 |
| 44e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 12.6 % | 2022 |
| 45e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 12.5 % | 2021 |
| 46e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 12.4 % | 2025 |
| 47e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 12.3 % | 2015 |
| 48e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 12.1 % | 2025 |
| 49e | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 11.8 % | 2025 |
| 50e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 11.6 % | 2025 |
| 51e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 11.2 % | 2019 |
| 52e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 11.2 % | 2024 |
| 53e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 11 % | 2025 |
| 54e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 11 % | 2024 |
| 55e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 10.9 % | 2025 |
| 56e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 10.9 % | 2024 |
| 57e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 10.7 % | 2025 |
| 58e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 10.5 % | 2019 |
| 59e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 10.4 % | 2025 |
| 60e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 10.2 % | 2025 |
| 61e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 10.1 % | 2025 |
| 62e | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 9.9 % | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 9.5 % | 2020 |
| 64e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 9.3 % | 2023 |
| 65e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 9.2 % | 2025 |
| 66e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 9 % | 2025 |
| 67e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 9 % | 2025 |
| 68e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 8.8 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 8.7 % | 2021 |
| 70e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 8.6 % | 2025 |
| 71e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 8.6 % | 2014 |
| 72e | 🇮🇳 India | 8.6 % | 2022 |
| 73e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 8.5 % | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 8.5 % | 2025 |
| 75e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 8.5 % | 2025 |
| 76e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 8.4 % | 2025 |
| 77e | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 8.4 % | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 8.3 % | 2024 |
| 79e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 8.2 % | 2025 |
| 80e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 8.1 % | 2025 |
| 81e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 8.1 % | 2022 |
| 82e | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 8 % | 2022 |
| 83e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 8 % | 2025 |
| 84e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 8 % | 2025 |
| 84e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 8 % | 2008 |
| 86e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 7.7 % | 2025 |
| 87e | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 7.6 % | 2025 |
| 88e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 7.5 % | 2025 |
| 89e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 7.1 % | 2019 |
| 90e | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines | 7.1 % | 2025 |
| 91e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 6.9 % | 2022 |
| 92e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 6.9 % | 2025 |
| 93e | 🇬🇩 Grenada | 6.9 % | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇽🇰 Kosovo | 6.7 % | 2018 |
| 95e | 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis | 6.5 % | 2025 |
| 96e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 6.4 % | 2024 |
| 97e | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | 6.4 % | 2025 |
| 98e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 6.3 % | 2025 |
| 99e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 6.3 % | 2024 |
| 100e | 🇱🇨 St. Lucia | 6.3 % | 2025 |
| 101e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 6.3 % | 2021 |
| 101e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 6.3 % | 2021 |
| 103e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 6 % | 2014 |
| 104e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 5.9 % | 2025 |
| 105e | 🇦🇼 Aruba | 5.8 % | 2023 |
| 106e | 🇩🇲 Dominica | 5.8 % | 2025 |
| 107e | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 5.5 % | 2025 |
| 108e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 5.5 % | 2021 |
| 109e | 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China | 5.5 % | 2025 |
| 110e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 5.4 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 111e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 111e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 111e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 111e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 111e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 5.3 % | 2016 |
| 117e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 5.3 % | 2021 |
| 118e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 5.2 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 5.2 % | 2021 |
| 120e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 5.2 % | 2015 |
| 121e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 5.1 % | 2019 |
| 122e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 5 % | 2025 |
| 123e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 5 % | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 4.9 % | 2023 |
| 125e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 4.8 % | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 4.8 % | 2010 |
| 127e | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 4.8 % | 2025 |
| 128e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 4.7 % | 2013 |
| 129e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 4.7 % | 2025 |
| 130e | 🇸🇲 San Marino | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 4.6 % | 2024 |
| 132e | 🇨🇳 China | 4.4 % | 2024 |
| 133e | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 4.3 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 135e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 136e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 4.2 % | 2018 |
| 137e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 4.1 % | 2025 |
| 138e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 3.7 % | 2006 |
| 139e | 🇺🇸 United States | 3.3 % | 2021 |
| 140e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 3 % | 2022 |
| 141e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 142e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 2.7 % | 2017 |
| 143e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1.5 % | 2013 |
| 144e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1 % | 2017 |
| 145e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 0.5 % | 2014 |
| 146e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 0 % | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Lending interest rate"?
The highest value is in Madagascar, at 60 % (2025).
Which country has the lowest value for "Lending interest rate"?
The lowest value is in New Zealand, at 0 % (2025).
What is the world median value of "Lending interest rate"?
The world median is 8.5 %, calculated across 146 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
Where does the "Lending interest rate" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (FR.INR.LEND). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
What is the lending interest rate?
It is the rate a bank charges a customer who borrows money. It is added to the principal to be repaid and determines the total cost of the loan.
Is a high rate always bad?
It makes borrowing more expensive, which holds back projects. But it can also reflect strong inflation or high risk. It should therefore be read alongside the country's economic situation.
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (FR.INR.LEND). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Prices, Inflation & Currency
- Inflation (GDP deflator)The rise in prices of everything the country produces (not just what households consume) over one year.
- Inflation (consumer prices)The average rise over one year in the prices of the things people buy every day.
- Broad money supply (M3)The amount of money in circulation (banknotes, current accounts, short-term savings), compared with the country's wealth.
- Price of a Big MacThe price of a McDonald's Big Mac sandwich, converted into US dollars at the current exchange rate. It is the same product everywhere in the world, which makes it a simple way to compare the cost of living between countries. Recorded twice a year by The Economist magazine.
- Real interest rateThe rate on bank loans once the rise in prices is subtracted.
- Official exchange rateHow many units of the country's currency it takes to buy 1 US dollar.