Financial inclusion increases, but differences remain

He level of financial inclusion average in 2022 for eight Latin American countries evaluated in a study commissioned by the Peruvian financial group Credicorp It is 44.2 on a scale of 0 to 100a result that implies an improvement of 6 points with respect to the 2021 measurement and although women have improved their inclusion, there are still significant gaps in favor of men.

The report mentions that last year, the citizens of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peruwith an achieved or optimal level of financial inclusion represent 25% of the participants, unlike the 16% found in 2021.

(Labor access policies for women remain stagnant, says ILO).

It also registers a 36% of the population in progress to be included, a percentage similar to that previously found (34%).

In the previous measurement, more than half (51%) of the population was at the lowest level of financial inclusion, so the 39% found in this study shows a very significant and encouraging improvement, says the survey result.

(Advances in the mining and energy sector in gender policies).

It indicates that there are improvements at a general level, but the financial inclusion of men and women reveals persistent gaps. The disadvantages of women are evident not only in the general result, but also in all the dimensions that compose it.

Thus, in the regional index, 23% of women are at the Achieved or optimal level of inclusion, compared to 28% found in men.

In the case of Colombia, according to Mariela ramirezVice President of Finance My banka subsidiary of Credicorp, The country is the second that has improved the most between 2021 and 2022, since it went from 15 to 25% in total inclusion at the Achieved level.

(41,000 Colombian women do not use menstrual health products: Dane).

He assured that women in Colombia passed from 12 to 23% at the Achieved level and remain four points below the men’s indicator.

The differences have narrowed with respect to the previous year, but the levels of financial inclusion among men are maintained.

(Women: economic gaps they face in Colombia).

The report says that it is good news that the percentage of people in the lowest level of financial inclusion has decreased overall compared to the 2021 study. However, men show better results.

The scores in all the dimensions that make up the index have increased for the total population compared to 2021, but the use of financial products and services continues to be the component in which women have the worst results compared to 2021.

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