The World Bank

📊 How are people around the world managing their money—and what’s driving progress in financial inclusion? The #GlobalFindex 2025, the world’s most comprehensive database on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk, is now available at globalfindex.worldbank.org. This fifth edition introduces the Global Findex Digital Connectivity Tracker, shedding light on how mobile phones and internet access are shaping financial behavior and inclusion.   Watch as Leora Klapper, Founder of the Global Findex, shares 5 key insights from the latest data. Meet John Ngeche, a poll worker who helped collect voices from nearly 150,000 adults, and hear from Findex champions around the world who are using digital tools to expand financial access and build economic resilience in their communities.   ▶️ Watch to discover the data behind the stories—and the stories behind the data.

Since 2021, bank account ownership in low- and middle-income countries has expanded by over 2 billion people, with major gains for women and underserved communities. The use of digital payments and formal savings is also on the rise, giving individuals and households greater financial resilience. All this from The World Bank ’s Global Findex 2025 report, released today, which highlights this extraordinary progress on financial inclusion. For the first time, the report includes a new Digital Connectivity Tracker, highlighting how wider internet and mobile access, combined with investments in digital public infrastructure (DPI), are accelerating economic participation for all. This progress is promising—despite global economic challenges, more people than ever are connected to financial systems, helping them to unlock opportunities and break the cycle of poverty. The report also points to ongoing challenges, with 1.3 billion adults—55% of them women—still financially excluded. We must continue to tackle these inequities, so that everyone can reap the benefits of financial inclusion. Take a look at the full report here: https://bit.ly/4nTFY9E

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Since 2011, the Global Findex Database has been the go-to source for data on how adults worldwide use financial services to save, borrow, make payments, and manage financial shocks. The 2025 edition, based on surveys of 148,000 adults in 141 economies, will offer updated insights—including the first globally comparable data on mobile phone ownership, internet use, and digital safety—while highlighting gaps in financial and digital access for women and low-income adults. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: ➡️ Worldwide, 79 percent of adults have an account at a bank or similar financial institution, with a mobile money provider, or both, up from 74 percent in 2021, while 86 percent of adults own a mobile phone. ➡️ Gender gaps in account ownership have narrowed, and gaps in mobile phone ownership are small, while formal saving has surged globally, driven by mobile accounts and reversing a long-term trend of slow growth. ➡️ More adults are making digital merchant payments; however, despite these advances, many people still lack access to mobile phones or financial accounts and require targeted programs to ensure they are not left behind. ➡️ Of the 900 million adults in low- and middle-income economies who use mobile money accounts, only three-quarters use passwords to protect their phones. ➡️ Greater account ownership and usage and increased access to digital opportunities have not yet increased overall financial health, defined as the ability to pursue financial goals, manage financial emergencies, and feel confident about one’s finances. ➡️ Despite high mobile phone ownership and growth in account ownership, 1.3 billion people still lack financial accounts. 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮: http://wrld.bg/ZG8o50WqFWR

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁? Explore our latest publications and gain insights from the expertise, research, and lessons shared by the World Bank Group. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: ➡️ 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: AI can boost development and reduce poverty, but low-income countries risk falling behind. A new handbook gives policymakers a flexible framework to design national AI strategies and build inclusive, local AI ecosystems. ➡️ 𝗔 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀: This report reviews building codes and implementation in selected countries, focusing on structural safety, green buildings, and accessibility. It supports policymakers, technical experts, and development partners involved in building regulation. ➡️ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀: The report highlights progress in strengthening CMAR, a regional marine conservation effort by four countries. With World Bank support, a permanent Secretariat was set up in Panama. Next steps include improving governance, launching a 10-year plan, and exploring sustainable financing. ➡️ 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹: This brief analyzes legal barriers to women’s economic participation in MENA, using data from Women, Business and the Law. It highlights key constraints, tracks reform progress, and offers recommendations to advance gender equality and boost economic growth. ➡️ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The WTO IFD Agreement helps developing countries attract investment by improving business climates. This LAC Handbook guides policymakers in implementing IFD measures, with summaries, detailed analysis, and case studies. ➡️ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: This book explores how households and firms perceive and respond to climate risks, and what limits their action. It offers practical policy options, even for fiscally constrained governments, to boost climate resilience in vulnerable sectors. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: http://wrld.bg/fsKW50WpvOI

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮? 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮? A growing challenge is emerging in Sub-Saharan Africa, where citizens are losing trust in governments’ ability to deliver essential public services—from education and health to infrastructure and security. The World Bank’s latest 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗖𝗣𝗜𝗔) offers insights into how service delivery trends shaped governance and economic performance in 2024—and what’s needed to rebuild trust. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: ➡️ Public dissatisfaction is rising. In 2024, youth-led protests spread, and incumbents lost most elections. People ranked poor services among their top concerns. ➡️ Infrastructure and human capital remain weak points. The region lags in transport, sanitation, education quality, and health outcomes—even after adjusting for income levels. ➡️ Despite this, some progress: Over half of IDA countries improved fiscal balances, debt levels are stabilizing, and reforms in tax systems and public financial management gained traction. ➡️ But weak governance is holding back progress. Transparency, budget execution, and accountability need urgent attention to improve service delivery and rebuild public trust. Governments have an opportunity to reset the fiscal contract—by focusing on results, investing in institutions, and delivering services that people can see and feel. 🔗 Read more: http://wrld.bg/caww50Wplgs

Weekly Update: ➡️ 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻: Global trade has remained resilient but it’s now slowing down. After a strong start to the year, annual trade growth is forecast to decelerate from 3.4 percent in 2024 to around 1.8 percent in 2025. ➡️ 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧ü𝗿𝗸𝗶𝘆𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟳𝟱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀: On July 7, 1950, the World Bank approved its first loan to Türkiye to boost agricultural infrastructure, a partnership that continues to support growth and jobs today. ➡️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝗗𝗔 𝗜𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀: The International Development Association’s (IDA) Private Sector Window has catalyzed over $31 billion in commercial investments in low-income and fragile countries and is expected to create 3 million jobs. ➡️ 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀: In Pakistan 5.6 million women are leveraging microfinancing to help them succeed in business and life. But the microfinance sector has only tapped into a quarter of its potential market size. 

The world’s population is aging at an unprecedented pace, yet many countries are not prepared for the magnitude of this demographic shift. This transformation brings both significant challenges and powerful opportunities. To keep up, countries must act now to strengthen health systems, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that aging is both healthy and dignified. At The World Bank, we’re helping countries turn demographic change into opportunity—with financing, data, and policy tools that promote healthy aging and protect families. Read more: http://wrld.bg/QGko50WnfL7

Extreme heat is becoming one of the most lethal and underestimated threats to cities in Europe and Central Asia, exacerbating health risks, undermining productivity, and pushing infrastructure to its limits. The report 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚 ‒ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 ‒ 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 identifies cities as both the frontline victims and potential leaders in building resilience, offering a roadmap of practical, high-impact actions. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: ➡️ Home to 70 percent of the people living in Europe and Central Asia (ECA), cities across the region are experiencing a sharp rise in temperatures and an increase in heatwaves. Tens of thousands of heat-related deaths have occurred in Europe and Central Asia in the past two decades. ➡️ Economic losses from extreme heat could reach 2.5 percent of GDP by midcentury in parts of the ECA region without intervention. ➡️ Cities also hold the keys to action. ECA countries can make urban spaces cooler, protect lives during extreme heat events, adapt infrastructure for a hotter future, and embed heat resilience across government. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: http://wrld.bg/b1Ah50WnelR