Wisconsin Microfinance has a new name: we're now WorldWise Microfinance!

WorldWise Microfinance WorldWise Microfinance
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Global Microfinance Metrics

Metrics

Globally, poverty is distributed unevenly. Data provided by the World Bank (2022) indicate that 712 million people (9% of the world’s population) are living in extreme poverty. In addition, extreme poverty is overwhelmingly rural, where the poverty rate in rural areas is more than three times greater than in urban areas.

By the end of 2024, over 140 million borrowers have been helped by the more than 10,000 microfinance institutions worldwide.

The future of microfinance is bright as it continues to expand beyond traditional institutions. New actors like distribution networks and mobile operators are assisting in offering financial products and services at cheaper costs to an underbanked and rural population.

By the numbers

80%

80% of borrowers are women

64%

64% of borrowers live in rural areas

10.2%/year

The number of borrowers is increasing at a rate of 10.2%/year

7%

The percent of loans at risk (over 30 days behind in repayments) is stabilized around 7%.

Worldwide use of microfinance

  • The top three microfinance markets are India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
  • 61% of borrowers are in South Asia.
  • 15% of borrowers are in East Asia and the Pacific.
  • 16% of borrowers are in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Less than 2% of borrowers are in the Middle East and North Africa.