Discover insights from the 2025 Global Financial Inclusion Index on how invisible technology—like instant payments, digital IDs, and open finance—is transforming financial inclusion worldwide.
Technology is reshaping financial inclusion, not just by opening doors, but by embedding financial empowerment into everyday lives. At Principal, we see digital infrastructure as more than a convenience; it’s a catalyst for confidence, capability, and economic mobility.
The 2025 Global Financial Inclusion Index (The Index) reinforces this: Markets investing in secure, integrated, and intuitive digital systems are seeing the fastest, most sustainable gains in financial inclusion.
What’s most exciting is that the impact of technology is becoming invisible. In markets like Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, and Thailand, digital ID systems, open finance platforms, and instant payments are seamlessly woven into daily life.
Brazil’s Pix system, now used by more than 175 million people, is a prime example of how scale follows simplicity and trust. Its neighbor Argentina also improved both its overall score and ranking due to structural reforms and rapid uptake in mobile banking. When technology works effortlessly, people engage more deeply with their finances, and that’s when real inclusion begins.
The Index shows that financial inclusion isn’t just about access anymore, it’s about participation. In China and India, digital finance has reached vast populations across diverse geographies, showing that scale is possible when systems are secure and user-friendly.
These markets are not only leading in fintech adoption, but they’re also leading in how people feel about their financial experiences. Vietnam and India top the consumer survey component of The Index, signaling that consumers find digital tools easy, intuitive, and empowering.
This shift from analog to digital is more than a technical upgrade, it’s a behavioral transformation. When banking, insurance, and investments live in one app, they’re more likely to save, invest, and plan for the future. The most successful markets embed digital tools into everyday routines, making financial engagement second nature.
Collaboration is key. In Singapore and Thailand, smart regulation enables private innovation to thrive. In Argentina, the Central Bank introduced its Open Banking framework in 2022, which has helped transform the country’s financial landscape. The same drivers underpinning Argentina’s progress in financial inclusion have been powerful catalysts for the development of the other markets exhibiting the most improvement. Governments create the framework for open banking and consumer protection, while fintechs buijld intuitive platforms that meet people where they are.
This synergy expands reach and digital engagement, especially among underserved populations. By contrast, markets clinging to traditional, siloed approaches to financial services are falling behind. The GFII reveals that many Western economies show slower progress in digital integration compared to leading Asian markets, reflecting a more gradual modernization of financial infrastructure rather than rapid transformation.
Key takeaways from the 2025 Global Financial Inclusion Index
- Brazil’s Pix system reached 175 million users, proving the power of simplicity and trust.
- Vietnam and India lead global perception scores, reflecting success in digital-led inclusion.
- South Korea and Thailand show how digital ID and open finance systems drive engagement.
- Smart regulation plus private innovation help unlock consumer behavior changes.
- Western economies lag in digital integration, risking slower progress.
The future of financial inclusion is embedded, intelligent, and invisible. AI is poised to personalize experiences, automate guidance, and uncover opportunities for better outcomes. But strong foundations matter, secure infrastructure, inclusive design, and a commitment to digital equity.
Financial inclusion is no longer a standalone initiative, it’s the result of how we build, connect, and deliver technology. When digital systems empower people to take control of their financial lives, we unlock not just access, but agency. That’s the real measure of progress.
