Global financial inclusion hits five-year high, Principal Financial Group index shows
PFG•The index reached 52 out of 100 in 2026, up from 49.4 in 2025, while the share of consumers feeling financially included fell to 57.6%.
1. Index reaches new high
Global financial inclusion reached a five-year high of 52 out of 100 in 2026, up from 49.4 in 2025. The share of consumers who felt financially included fell to 57.6%, down 17.2 percentage points since 2022.
2. Regional and system shifts
Financial system support rose 4.4 points, the index’s largest annual improvement across its three pillars, driven by digital finance. Latin America recorded the strongest five-year progress, Germany had the largest annual ranking decline, and the United States climbed two places to fifth, primarily reflecting financial system improvements.
