Financial Inclusion in North America

For the purposes of regional data analysis, the World Bank classification of North America includes only two countries: United States and Canada. According to the 2021 edition of the Global Findex – the World Bank’s global database that tracks financial inclusion – North America has the highest percentage of people who own an account. Specifically, 99.6 of the adult population in Canada and 95 percent in the United States own an account with a financial institution or mobile money provider.

Moreover, the use of digital financial services is widespread in North America. In Canada, 98 percent of the population reported having made or received a digital payment in the last year; in the United States, the figure is 93 percent. However, Findex data reveal that people with lower levels of education in the United States are substantially less likely to have made or received digital payments. Only 54 percent of people with only primary school education reported having made or received a digital payment, compared to 94 percent of those who have secondary education or more.

Learn about financial inclusion in other regions: 

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Key Financial Inclusion Data

Women are more likely to own an account than men

Percent of adults age 15+ with an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider
Source: The Global Findex Database

Only 52% of adults can easily access emergency funding within 30 days

Percent of adults age 15+
Source: The Global Findex Database

The Region Has the Biggest Gap in Use of Digital Payments by Level of Education

Made or received digital payments in the past year, primary education or less vs. secondary education or more (% age 15+)
Source: The Global Findex Database

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