The Global Findex Database

Apr
2012

posted by Karina | on Research | No comments

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Social Research Digest – April 2012

Summary

The paper provides the first analysis of the Global Financial Inclusion (Global Findex) Database, a new set of indicators that measure how adults in 148 economies save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. It is part of a larger effort by the World Bank to provide open access to its research and make a contribution to development policy discussions around the world.

Key Findings

The data show that 50 percent of adults worldwide have an account at a formal financial institution, though account penetration varies widely across regions, income groups and individual characteristics.
In addition, 22 percent of adults report having saved at a formal financial institution in the past 12 months, and 9 percent report having taken out a new loan from a bank, credit union or microfinance institution in the past year.
Although half of adults around the world remain unbanked, at least 35 percent of them report barriers to account use that might be addressed by public policy.
Among the most commonly reported barriers are high cost, physical distance, and lack of proper documentation, though there are significant differences across regions and individual characteristics.

Author(s)

World Bank

Source

PDF report

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