Lebanon Interest Rate Spread
Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate) FR.INR.LNDP
Lebanon's interest rate spread was 0.82% in 2019, ranked 1st globally. This represents a 40.5% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2019.
Overview
Lebanon's interest rate spread stood at 0.82% in 2019, a decline of +0.56pp from 2018. Lebanon ranked 1st globally.
Lebanon’s interest‑rate spread fell dramatically over the 37‑year series, reaching an all‑time peak of 23.12 % in 1992 before contracting to a trough of 0.82 % in 2019, the lowest level recorded worldwide that year. The 2019 spread of 0.82 % represents a decline of more than 22 percentage points from the 1992 high, underscoring the country’s shift from a highly fragmented credit market to one where lending and deposit rates have converged. By contrast, peer economies such as Fiji (1.35 %) and Benin (1.38 %) continued to exhibit spreads roughly double Lebanon’s 2019 figure, indicating a comparatively tighter financing environment in Lebanon. The sustained compression of the spread reflects a combination of monetary policy adjustments, reduced risk premia, and limited access to external financing. If Lebanon can maintain macro‑financial stability and improve sovereign creditworthiness, the narrow spread is likely to persist, whereas a resurgence of fiscal stress could reverse the trend and widen the gap again.
Data & projection
| Year | Interest Rate Spread | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0.82% | −0.56pp | #1 |
| 2018 | 1.37% | −0.66pp | #3 |
| 2017 | 2.03% | −0.39pp | #19 |
| 2016 | 2.42% | +1.31pp | #22 |
| 2015 | 1.11% | −0.25pp | #15 |
| 2014 | 1.36% | −0.16pp | #14 |
| 2013 | 1.52% | +0.04pp | #14 |
| 2012 | 1.48% | −0.17pp | #13 |
| 2011 | 1.64% | −0.50pp | #14 |
| 2010 | 2.14% | −0.11pp | #21 |
| 2009 | 2.25% | −0.01pp | #18 |
| 2008 | 2.26% | −0.02pp | #20 |
| 2007 | 2.28% | +0.00pp | #19 |
| 2006 | 2.28% | −0.21pp | #19 |
| 2005 | 2.49% | −0.94pp | #15 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw interest rate spread improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's interest rate spread was 0.82% in 2019. Ranked 1st globally. This represents a 40.5% decrease from the previous year.
Lebanon's interest rate spread peaked at 23.12% in 1992.
The lowest interest rate spread in Lebanon was 0.82% in 2019.
Lebanon ranks 1st globally in interest rate spread as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is FR.INR.LNDP. Data sourced from World Bank.
The interest rate spread of Lebanon in 2019 was 0.82%. This ranks 1st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_interest-rate-spread,
title = {Lebanon Interest Rate Spread},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/interest-rate-spread/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}