The Global Financial Inclusion Index measures how governments, employers, and financial systems promote financial inclusion in 42 markets.
Financial inclusion is a core component of financial security. It drives social mobility and market resilience. Since 2022, the Global Financial Inclusion Index (PDF) has tracked annual progress toward making access to financial services available to everyone. We look at three key pillars: government, employers, and the financial system.
Principal® established the Index as part of our ongoing commitment to promoting greater access to financial security, in collaboration with the Centre for Economics and Business Research. This year’s Index analyzes the underlying drivers of financial inclusion in 42 regional markets.
A: We’ve hit a speed bump, with a small dip in our Index compared to 2024. Macroeconomic headwinds, tighter funding conditions, and a more selective investment climate have contributed to a slowdown, but the foundation remains strong compared to 2022.
Takeaway
Financial inclusion requires continuous effort. Employers, governments, and financial systems can support targeted investment, innovation, and policy response to help society return to consistent progress.
A: The numbers tell a compelling story: An improvement of 1 percentage point in financial literacy is associated with a reduction of 2.8 points in defaults on household loans and a reduction of 6.7 points in household debt-to-income ratios. As a result, an improvement of 10 percentage points in financial literacy may boost global GDP growth (beyond baseline growth) by three-tenths of a point over four years.
Takeaway
Ongoing investment in financial education and literacy is an economic—and moral—imperative. Governments and employers that embed financial education into schools, workplaces, and digital platforms can help strengthen household stability and national economies.
A: Success stories are emerging worldwide. Markets with the largest leaps in their financial inclusion scores—such as Argentina, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand—have successfully digitized their financial systems. Thanks to fintech, the UAE and Saudi Arabia surged the most in the last year in financial system scores.
A: The data shows it has a lot to do with teamwork. No single pillar can carry inclusion alone. In 2025, as Index employer scores fell, government support rose by 0.6 points globally, and financial system support rose in 24 markets. Long‑term progress depends on a symbiotic relationship where governments set policy, financial systems modernize access, and employers deliver education and benefits directly to people.
A: Financial inclusion scores among employers declined this year in 35 out of 42 markets, including in the U.S., with a comparatively modest dip from 63.3 in 2024 to 62.8 in 2025. Economic uncertainty stressed employers as they struggled with funding access and fluctuating trade policy, affecting some plans for employee support and business growth.
A: Economic uncertainty stresses all businesses, and U.S. employer support has fallen more than 18 points since 2022. But smaller employers are often less insulated from financial impact, which can limit the financial support they provide to others. While larger businesses regained modest ground in 2025, support provided by those with 11–100 employees continued to decrease.
A: Our research shows that greater financial literacy leads to more confident, resilient employees who can better manage their finances and make informed decisions. These gains support broader economic growth. An increase of 17 percentage points in financial literacy in the U.S.—from our current 33% level in 2025 to 50%—could drive a boost of half a percentage point in GDP growth by 2029.
A: For the fourth consecutive year, our research shows that employers are the institution making employees feel most financially included, according to 67% of those surveyed—compared to 62.1% for the financial system and 44.6% for government. Simple steps by employers—like transparent communication on benefits, flexible pay options, and access to digital tools—can reinforce this trust.
