International findings on cross-border payment methods, as detailed in the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 Report
The World Bank has recently released its Global Findex Database for 2025, providing a comprehensive snapshot of consumer financial service usage worldwide. The report focuses on various aspects of financial services, including account ownership, mobile money, digital payments, and cross-border payments.
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), account ownership among adults has grown significantly to 75%, up 80% over the last decade, narrowing the global gap (79% globally). The gender gap in account ownership in developing economies has also declined to 5 percentage points, improving from previous higher levels[2].
Mobile phones and internet access have revolutionized financial services. Mobile money accounts have seen steep growth, from just 1% of adults worldwide in 2014 to 15% in 2025. This reflects the increasing role of mobile technology in expanding access to financial services[2][3][4].
The adoption of digital payments continues to accelerate in developing economies. The share of adults making or receiving digital payments nearly doubled from 34% in 2014 to 62% in 2024 across developing regions. Digital merchant payments have also grown, with 36% of adults in LMICs purchasing goods online in 2024, indicating rising digital commerce demand[1][2].
Formal saving accounts, a key factor in financial resilience, now account for 40% of adults in LMICs, up 16 percentage points. This surge is attributed to mobile accounts enabling easier saving[2][4].
Although digital services have expanded, significant barriers persist in onboarding underserved users in developing markets. There is growing demand for seamless cross-border digital payments, particularly linked to rising cross-border e-commerce. The report suggests opportunities in expanding access and improving payment convenience internationally[1].
The World Bank's Global Findex Database for 2025 offers a wealth of insights into global financial service usage, based on survey data collected from over 140,000 people in 141 economies. The report provides data that is particularly relevant for cross-border payments providers operating in developing markets, as the findings are applicable to these regions.
Creating a free account provides access to extensive research and analysis on cross-border payments globally, including the industry-leading newsletter. The report offers a clear picture of the progress made in financial inclusion and the challenges that remain, particularly in reaching the hardest-to-serve populations and enabling seamless cross-border transactions, especially in developing economies[1][2][3].
In the realm of business and personal-finance, the World Bank's Global Findex Database for 2025 reveals that the adoption of digital payments is accelerating in developing economies, with 62% of adults making or receiving digital payments in 2024. Moreover, investing in mobile technology has led to a surge in formal saving accounts among adults in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), accounting for 40% in LMICs, up 16 percentage points.
