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Insights Centre
Indicators · Digital and financial inclusion

Account ownership

Share of adults with an account at a bank, other financial institution or mobile money provider (World Bank Global Findex).

Why it matters

Measures the reach of formal finance. Low ownership means a large unbanked market for fintech and mobile money.

Read with care

Findex surveys run every three years, so the latest point can be several years old.

Source

World Bank

% of adults. 48 African countries, 2011 to 2024.

Accounts: highest in Mauritius, lowest in Madagascar

Account ownership, % of adults. Latest year available, mostly 2024. 15 of 16 countries have data.

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Source: World Bank· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Ranked: accountsiWhy it mattersMeasures the reach of formal finance. Low ownership means a large unbanked market for fintech and mobile money.

Click a country to highlight it.

0%20%40%60%80%Mauritius89.6%South Africa81.1%Namibia72.9%Zambia72.7%Eswatini65.1%Lesotho61.6%Botswana61.4%Tanzania59.8%Mozambique54.4%Malawi50.4%Zimbabwe49.5%Comoros45.5%DRC39.2%Angola29.3% (2014)Madagascar24.5%median 59.8%
dotzedw Insights Centre
How spread out SADC is
Median 59.8%Lowest: Madagascar 24.5%Highest: Mauritius 89.6%

Over time

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Account ownership against income per person

Each bubble is a SADC country, sized by population. Dashed lines mark the SADC medians. Countries far from the pattern are worth a closer look.

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%$1,000$3,000$10kGDP per person, US$ (log scale)AccountsDRCTanzaniaSouth AfricaAngolaMozambiqueMadagascarMalawiZambia
Source: World Bank, World Bank·dotzedw Insights Centre

Table

The same figures as the map, for screen readers and copying.
RankCountryValueYearFive-year changeGradeDetails
1Mauritius89.6%2024down 0.2 points since 2017A
2South Africa81.1%2024up 11.9 points since 2017A
3Namibia72.9%2024down 7.7 points since 2017A
4Zambia72.7%2024up 26.8 points since 2017A
5Eswatini65.1%2024up 36.5 points since 2011A
6Lesotho61.6%2024up 16.0 points since 2017A
7Botswana61.4%2024up 10.4 points since 2017A
8Tanzania59.8%2024up 13.1 points since 2017A
9Mozambique54.4%2024up 12.7 points since 2017A
10Malawi50.4%2024up 16.7 points since 2017A
11Zimbabwe49.5%2024down 5.8 points since 2017A
12Comoros45.5%2024up 23.8 points since 2011A
13DRC39.2%2024up 13.4 points since 2017A
14Angola29.3%2014down 9.9 points since 2011B
15Madagascar24.5%2024up 6.6 points since 2017A
–SeychellesNo recent data