What the dataset measures
Global Findex 2025 reports on nationally representative surveys conducted in 2024. The target population is noninstitutionalized civilian adults aged 15 and above. Its account definition includes qualifying financial-institution accounts and personally used mobile money.
This is survey evidence, rather than an administrative census of accounts. Account ownership describes access; it does not establish credit availability, active usage, financial resilience or customer satisfaction.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2011–2024 · Findex 2025
Account ownership has grown globally
All adults ages 15+
| Measure | % of adults |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 50.6 |
| 2014 | 61.7 |
| 2017 | 69.3 |
| 2021 | 73.8 |
| 2024 | 78.7 |
World. Use a percent axis from 0 to 100. Earlier years are historical observations in the latest database; 2021 aggregates were revised when delayed surveys were added.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Use the same geography and denominator
World Bank regional aggregates in these charts cover low- and middle-income economies. They exclude high-income economies located within the geographic region. The supplied weighted aggregates are used directly, rather than averaging country percentages.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Account ownership by region
All adults ages 15+ in the indicated regional aggregate
| Measure | % of adults |
|---|---|
| East Asia & Pacific | 83.3 |
| Europe & Central Asia | 77.8 |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 69.7 |
| Middle East & North Africa | 52.9 |
| South Asia | 77.6 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 58.2 |
World Bank analytical regions; low- and middle-income economies only. High-income economies are excluded from the regional aggregates, including wealthy economies within the same geographic region. Use the World Bank supplied weighted aggregates; do not average country percentages. Regions reflect the Findex 2025 classification and surveyed coverage.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Read overlapping answers correctly
The reasons for not having an account use unbanked adults in low- and middle-income economies as the denominator. Respondents can select several barriers. A pie chart or a total of these percentages would be misleading.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Reported reasons for not having an account
Adults ages 15+ without any financial account
| Measure | % of unbanked adults |
|---|---|
| Not enough money | 59.5 |
| Financial services too expensive | 39.6 |
| Someone in the family has one | 38 |
| Institutions too far away | 33.9 |
Low- and middle-income economies (LMY). Respondents can select multiple reasons. Do not use a pie chart, stack to 100%, or add these values. Reasons refer to not having a bank or similar institution account, among respondents with no financial account. Documentation and trust aggregates are missing in this downloadable LMY slice; do not substitute zero or an earlier survey year. Other barriers can exist.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Connectivity does not imply eligibility
Phone ownership, smartphone use and internet use are different measures. Smartphone owners are included in the relevant phone-owning population. Internet use here refers to the previous three months, not subscriptions or network coverage.
These data explain potential delivery constraints and channels. They do not establish an immediately convertible population for a bank or product.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Personal mobile connectivity
All adults ages 15+
| Measure | % of adults |
|---|---|
| Own a mobile phone | 85.7 |
| Main mobile phone is a smartphone | 68.3 |
World. Smartphone figure is a subset of mobile connectivity, not an additional population. The official series definition for con9a is the main phone used being a smartphone. Mobile phone ownership does not prove connectivity, account eligibility, or independent digital skills.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Treat access research as context
Underbanked describes a broader unmet need and has no single global statistical definition. A person may hold a payment account and still lack suitable saving, insurance or agricultural credit. This site does not invent a global underbanked total.
The independent research is distinct from WAB’s development model. It is useful for identifying the questions to investigate locally and for establishing a baseline if operations begin. It is not a WAB performance dashboard.
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