Insights into cross-border payments from the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 survey report
The World Bank recently released its Global Findex Report for 2025, offering valuable insights into financial inclusion in developing markets. This report, specifically focusing on cross-border payments providers operating in these markets, provides a wealth of information that is relevant for the industry.
The report is based on survey data covering over 140,000 people in 141 economies, making it a comprehensive snapshot of consumer financial services usage around the world. It includes nearly 300 indicators, covering mobile phone ownership, internet use, digital safety, and numerous aspects of financial services, with data disaggregated by gender, income, age, and urban/rural residency.
- Account Ownership: There has been substantial growth in financial account ownership, driven largely by mobile phones and internet connectivity. However, 1.3 billion adults worldwide still lack financial accounts, with an additional 300 million having inactive accounts. About a quarter of adults in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain unbanked, particularly among small business owners, smallholder farmers, women, and rural populations. Gender gaps in account ownership persist in 65 economies, with some exceeding 20 percentage points, although these gaps are narrowing overall.
- Mobile Money Use: Mobile phone technology is a key driver of this progress. Notably, 10% of adults in developing countries now use mobile-money accounts specifically for saving, marking a 5-percentage-point increase since 2021. Mobile financial services have boosted account use for saving and payments, representing a significant development in expanding access to formal financial systems.
- Digital Payments: Digital payments have seen great progress alongside mobile money. The expansion of digital financial tools, enabled by increasing connectivity, is allowing more people to save, borrow, and make payments digitally. However, while savings and digital payments have expanded, usage of other financial services like credit and insurance remains limited.
- Cross-Border Payments: Although the report does not provide specific detailed insights on cross-border payments from the 2025 report, the emphasis on digital connectivity and mobile technology implies continued opportunities to enhance cross-border financial flows in developing markets by leveraging digital platforms. The overall theme of the report suggests that digital innovation is key to improving financial inclusion, including cross-border payments.
In sum, the 2025 report underscores that technology—particularly mobile phones and internet access—is revolutionizing financial inclusion in developing markets by expanding account ownership, mobile money use, and digital payments. However, challenges remain to reach the most underserved populations and broaden access to a full range of financial services.
Creating a free account provides access to the most extensive range of research and analysis on cross-border payments globally, making the report a valuable resource for cross-border payments providers seeking to understand trends in developing markets. The report is delivered through an industry-leading newsletter, making it easily accessible for professionals in the field.
- Investment Opportunities: The significant growth in financial inclusion, especially in digital payments, presents potential investment opportunities for businesses and personal finances, particularly in cross-border payments providers operating in developing markets.
- Business Strategy: Understanding the insights from the World Bank's Global Findex Report, such as the persisting gender gaps in account ownership and limited usage of credit and insurance, could be instrumental in formulating effective business strategies for financial institutions focusing on personal finance.
