Archive · 18 Jul 2025
India Leads in Adults Without Mobile Money Accounts Globally
Imagine mobile money accounts like digital wallets on your phone.
India has a lot of people using these, almost 90%!
But because India has so many people, it also has the most adults in the world who *don't* have these accounts.
Think of it like this: even if everyone in your class uses a certain toy, if your class is huge, there will still be a lot of kids without one.
Some people don't have accounts because their families do, they don't have enough money, or the banks are too far.
More women are getting these accounts now, especially because they're getting money from the government directly into their accounts.
These accounts help people manage money easier!
India has the largest number of adults without mobile money accounts globally, despite a 90% account ownership rate.
China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan are the countries with the most adults without mobile money accounts.
Women, lower-income, less educated, younger, and rural adults are less likely to have accounts.
A common reason for not having an account in India is having a family member with one.
The gender gap in active account ownership decreased from 12% to 7% between 2021 and 2024.
- Who
- Adults in India, along with those in China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
- What
- India has the largest number of adults without mobile money accounts.
- When
- The data is recent with trends from 2011 to 2024.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Factors include family members having accounts, lack of money, cost of services, and distance to financial institutions.
Current Challenges
Potential for Improvement
Demographic disparities in account ownership and use
Current Challenges
Women, lower-income, less-educated, younger, and rural adults are less likely to have mobile money accounts.
Potential for Improvement
Efforts like government digital payments are improving the situation for women, yet disparities exist.
- Account Ownership Rate in India
- Nearly 90%
- Countries with Most Adults Without Accounts
- India, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan
- Gender Gap Decrease
- From 12% to 7% (2021-2024)
- Women receiving G2P payments (2021)
- 13%
- Women receiving G2P payments (2024)
- 24%