Banana glycemic index
Banana has a glycemic index of 48, which is low. A 120 g serving (1 medium fruit) has a glycemic load of 12 (medium).
- Serving120 g
- Available carbs24 g
- Fiber3.1 g
- Sugars15 g
- Protein1.3 g
- Calories107 kcal
Serving: 1 medium fruit.
What to know
Ripeness matters: as a banana ripens, resistant starch turns into sugar and its GI rises. A slightly green banana has a lower GI than a spotty one, and a small banana halves the glycemic load.
Glycemic load by portion size
GI stays the same whatever you eat, but glycemic load scales with the amount: eating twice as much doubles the effect on blood sugar.
| Amount | Available carbs | Glycemic load | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 g | 10 g | 5 | Low |
| 100 g | 20 g | 10 | Low |
| 120 g · 1 medium fruit | 24 g | 12 | Medium |
| 240 g · double serving | 48 g | 23 | High |
What the studies found
The value of 48 is the median of 16 published measurements in the International Tables of Glycemic Index (2021). Results range from 30 to 70. That spread is normal: GI changes with variety, ripeness, cooking and processing, and between labs.
Each dot is one study. Green dots followed the ISO 26642 standard method.
- 30 · Bangladesh 2011
- 35 · Taiwan 2010
- 41 · Taiwan 2010
- 43 · Sri Lanka 2011
- 43 · Sri Lanka 2011
- 44 · Nigeria 2002
- 47 · Australia 2008
- 48 · Sri Lanka 2011
- 49 · Australia 2014
- 49 · Israel 1988
- 51 · USA 1992
- 53 · Australia 2014
- 59 · Italy 1995
- 59 · Canada 1983
- 62 · Canada 1981
- 70 · South Africa 1984
Banana compared with other fruits
Similar low-GI foods
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Frequently asked questions
Is banana low glycemic?
Yes. With a GI of 48, banana is in the low range (55 or less).
What is the glycemic load of banana?
A 120 g serving (1 medium fruit) has a glycemic load of 12, which is medium. Glycemic load combines GI with the amount of carbohydrate in the portion: 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 medium and 20 or more high.
Can people with diabetes eat banana?
With a GI of 48 and a medium glycemic load per serving, banana can be part of a diabetes-friendly diet with attention to portion size and pairing it with protein, fat or fiber. Everyone responds differently, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about your plan.
How many carbs are in banana?
A 120 g serving has about 27 g of total carbohydrate, including 3.1 g of fiber, leaving 24.2 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 22.8 g of carbohydrate.
Nutrition facts
| per 100 g | Serving (120 g) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 89 kcal | 107 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g | 27 g |
| Available carbs | 20 g | 24 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g | 3.1 g |
| Sugars | 12 g | 15 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 1.3 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g | 0.4 g |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, Bananas, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 173944). Available carbohydrate = total carbohydrate minus fiber.
Sources: Atkinson FS, Brand-Miller JC, Foster-Powell K, Buyken AE, Goletzke J. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(5):1625–1632. USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate each value: Methodology & sources.
Data last reviewed 2026-09-29.