Mobile tech fueled financial inclusion boom in developing economies in 2024

The momentum is reshaping personal finance in low- and middle-income economies, driving formal savings and unlocking new opportunities for inclusive economic growth. The Global Findex 2025 provides a comprehensive look at how financial services—especially mobile and digital—are shaping the future of inclusive development.

In 2024, 40 percent of adults in developing economies reported saving in a financial account—a 16 percent increase from 2021 and the fastest progress recorded in more than a decade. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the share of adults saving formally jumped by 12 percentage points to 35 percent, reflecting a significant shift toward more structured financial behaviours.

Mobile phone technology has played a key role in this leap.

Ten percent of adults in developing countries now use mobile money accounts to save—double the 2021 figure. According to the report, this surge in digital financial inclusion is transforming how people manage money and enabling governments to expand access to credit, improve welfare delivery, and support long-term investment.