1.3 billion adults without an account
World Bank Global Findex 2025 estimates that 1.3 billion adults lacked a financial account in 2024. Account ownership had reached approximately 79% globally. The survey population is adults aged 15 and above; qualifying mobile money is included in its account definition.
An account is a starting point. Cost, distance, independent access, accepted identification, digital confidence and product suitability affect whether it can be used. An account holder can still lack credit adapted to a growing season or reliable access to savings.
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 2025Several barriers can apply to the same person
Among unbanked adults in low- and middle-income economies, about 59% cited insufficient money, 40% expensive services, 38% an account held by another family member, and 34% distance. Respondents could select several reasons; these percentages cannot be added.
Fixed charges weigh heavily on a small balance. Travel carries a cost in time and money. Another person’s account may provide a payment route while limiting privacy and control. Service design needs to address the combination a customer actually faces.
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 2025Rural access is a distinct delivery problem
In the same dataset, rural account ownership in low- and middle-income economies was about 71%, compared with 79% in urban areas. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the corresponding figures were about 52% and 70%. Rural residence is not a count of farmer occupations.
Serving dispersed communities requires a delivery model: trained local support, usable interfaces, a cash-in and cash-out route where needed, and a cost structure that works for modest transactions. A regional average cannot replace local research.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Rural and urban account ownership
Adults ages 15+ residing in rural or urban areas, each separately
| Measure | % of adults |
|---|---|
| Low/middle income: rural | 71.3 |
| Low/middle income: urban | 78.9 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa: rural | 52.4 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa: urban | 69.6 |
Low- and middle-income economies; Sub-Saharan Africa excluding high income. Rural residence is not the same as farmer occupation. These two geographies overlap and cannot be summed. Chart as two pairs. Rural/urban estimates reflect the survey classification.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Women’s independent access matters
Globally, around 77% of women and 81% of men had accounts in 2024. Those averages describe a gap of about four percentage points. The design question is whether a customer can hold accepted documents, control credentials and transact privately when required.
Application totals alone do not show inclusion. Approval, active use, affordability, complaints and customer understanding provide a fuller picture. Data collection should respect privacy and explain how information will be used.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Global account ownership by gender
Women ages 15+ and men ages 15+, each separately
| Measure | % of adults |
|---|---|
| Women | 76.6 |
| Men | 80.9 |
World. Men minus women is 4.2222 percentage points using the unrounded dataset values; communicate as about 4 percentage points. This is a population gap, not a probability of rejection.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025A phone is a channel, with its own constraints
The World Bank estimates that about 900 million unbanked adults owned phones, including roughly 530 million with smartphones. The second count is included in the first. Ownership does not establish connectivity, digital skills or eligibility for a banking product.
WAB’s mobile-access ambition therefore needs assisted use and support as well as software. The service must consider shared devices, basic phones, language, accessibility, connection quality and a lost-device recovery process.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · 2024 survey · Findex 2025
Many unbanked adults already have phones
Counts within the unbanked adult population
| Measure | million adults |
|---|---|
| Unbanked adults with a mobile phone | 900 |
| Of whom have smartphones | 530 |
World. Both counts are approximate figures in the World Bank press release. Smartphone owners are included in the 900 million phone owners. Never sum these bars. These are not WAB customers or ready-to-convert users.
World Bank · Global Findex 2025Work with the channels people already use
Bank branches, mobile money, microfinance and specialist agricultural lenders serve different needs. A useful agricultural banking model can coordinate with this ecosystem. Local regulation, partners and actual product terms determine availability.
Bank / bank agent
Saving, cash access and broader lending
Local reach, fees, collateral and seasonal repayment fitMobile money
Transfers and small payments
Agent liquidity, cash-out charges, limits and interoperabilityMicrofinance
Small loans and local support
Total cost, repayment frequency and household affordabilityValue-chain finance
Inputs or credit connected to a crop buyer
Buyer concentration, price terms and contract enforceabilityWAB service design
Agricultural relationship, payments and seasonal finance
Bank formation, local delivery partners, approvals and product readinessQualitative design comparison. Terms depend on the provider, jurisdiction and transaction. WAB services are in development; USD2 capital remains under discussion. No option is assigned a performance score.
WAB’s licence has not been approved. External financial-access data explains the need; it is not evidence of WAB adoption or delivered outcomes.
READ THE SOURCE
Publications and reference material
WAB development presentations · January 2025 and May 2026