Financial inclusion rises in Latin America and the Caribbean

Financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean has grown significantly over the last decade. According to the Global Findex Database 2025, 70% of adults in the region (excluding high-income economies) owned a financial account in 2024, an increase from 54% in 2017 and 39% in 2011.

Mobile money usage has seen a major surge, with 37% of adults reporting mobile money accounts in 2024, up 15 percentage points from 2021. This digital shift has contributed to formal savings growing from 18% in 2021 to 29% in 2024. Additionally, 59% of adults reported using digital payments in the past year.

Regional disparities remain evident. Brazil (86%) and Chile (85%) lead in account ownership, while Nicaragua (24%) and Guatemala (38%) lag behind. A gender gap also persists; in 2024, 66% of women held financial accounts compared to 74% of men, an 8-percentage point difference.