Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.: Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.

73%. Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade. Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (women, developing economies).

Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.: The gap that held at nine points for years is down to five.

5 pts. The gap that held at nine points for years is down to five. Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (men minus women, account ownership).

Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.: Adults with a financial account, women versus men, developing economies.

In a decade, the distance between women and men halved.. Adults with a financial account, women versus men, developing economies. Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011, 2021 and 2024 (developing economies).

Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.: Women with a financial account, low- and middle-income economies, 2024.

Nearly three in four women now hold an account.. Women with a financial account, low- and middle-income economies, 2024. Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2024.

capsrow / the Global South

Invisible Giant

Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.

The most important number in financial inclusion is the one that is shrinking.

By capsrow · Updated July 2026

73%Women's account ownership nearly doubled in a decade.Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (women, developing economies).
5 ptsThe gap that held at nine points for years is down to five.Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (men minus women, account ownership).
In a decade, the distance between women and men halved.Adults with a financial account, women versus men, developing economies.Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011, 2021 and 2024 (developing economies).
Nearly three in four women now hold an account.Women with a financial account, low- and middle-income economies, 2024.Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2024.

The most important number in financial inclusion is the one that is shrinking.

For years the gap between women and men holding an account across developing economies sat stuck at nine percentage points. Then it moved: to six by 2021, to five by 2024, as women's account ownership climbed from roughly a third of adults to nearly three in four. The story is not that a gap exists. It is that a decade of mobile money, direct-to-account payments, and agent networks is closing one that barely moved for a generation.

Inclusion is measured in people reached, not balances held.

This is the rail that banks the other half of the Global South.

Sources. Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (women, developing economies). Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011 to 2024 (men minus women, account ownership). Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2011, 2021 and 2024 (developing economies). Source: World Bank Global Findex, 2024.