Financial inclusion trends in Latin America

Financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean has seen significant growth over the last decade. Data from the Global Findex Database 2025 indicates that account ownership among adults in the region rose to 70% in 2024, up from 54% in 2017 and 39% in 2011.

This expansion has been driven largely by a digital shift, with mobile money usage reaching 37% in 2024 and 59% of adults utilizing digital payments. Consequently, formal savings increased from 18% in 2021 to 29% in 2024. However, regional disparities persist, with high ownership rates in Brazil and Chile contrasted against lower rates in Nicaragua and Guatemala.

A persistent gender gap remains a central issue. Reports from both the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the Global Findex Database show that while 74% of men hold financial accounts, only 66% of women have access. CAF notes that this gap acts as a barrier to economic autonomy, and the institution is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to promote the Gender Equality Seal for Financial Institutions to address these inequalities.