Africa

70% Adult population financially excluded

88,420 46% Female borrowers The majority of female borrowers are the primary income-earners in their families. % #

942,495 Total FINCA clients In Africa, savers outnumber borrowers by more than 4 to 1. FINCA subsidiaries in this region use non-traditional channels, such as mobile banking and rural agents, to mobilize small deposits in remote areas.

21,580 45% Borrowers in rural areas Rural outreach is particularly striking in Tanzania and Uganda, where it reaches 75%. % #

190,243 Total FINCA borrowers

85% Adult population financially excluded The rate of financial exclusion is higher than the regional average (70%).

27,057 37% Female borrowers % #

357,540 Total FINCA clients FINCA DRC has more than 8 times as many savers as borrowers.

14,704 20% Borrowers in rural areas Efforts are underway to reach more rural areas, but they are hindered by instability and violence in the countryside. % #

73,518 Total FINCA borrowers

77% Adult population financially excluded

20,380 64% Female borrowers % #

53,243 Total FINCA clients

17,926 56% Borrowers in rural areas % #

32,011 Total FINCA borrowers

61% Adult population financially excluded More than half of the adult population in Nigeria is financially excluded.

2,750 47% Female borrowers % #

31,105 Total FINCA clients

5,806 Total FINCA borrowers

79% Adult population financially excluded

22,417 51% Female borrowers % #

364,154 Total FINCA clients

32,686 75% Borrowers in rural areas % #

43,581 Total FINCA borrowers

67% Adult population financially excluded

9,463 40% Female borrowers % #

116,877 Total FINCA clients

17,729 75% Borrowers in rural areas % #

23,639 Total FINCA borrowers

64% Adult population financially excluded The level of financial inclusion in Zambia is higher than in Africa overall, but is still low, at 31%.

6,353 54% Female borrowers % #

19,576 Total FINCA clients

0 0% Borrowers in rural areas FINCA aims to increase its rural outreach through mobile and agency banking. % #

11,688 Total FINCA borrowers

View All Financial Inclusion Data

Among the FINCA regions, Africa has the second highest rate of financial exclusion. FINCA is working hard to close that gap using technology to reach severely under-banked people. Mobile and agency banking channels are helping us overcome the lack of infrastructure that isolates poor and rural communities. The goal is not only to reach people with a full range of services, including savings, credit and insurance.

Living Standards

Africa:
Quality of Life

92,300 50% Client homes without water % #

65,427 35% Client homes without electricity % #

118,808 64% Client homes without access to Internet % #

75,634 41% Clients who don’t own their home The rate of clients who don't own their own home is more than twice the global average (17%). % #

76,817 42% Head of household with primary education or less % #

33,818 46% Client homes without water The DRC, Africa’s most “water-rich” country, is facing an acute water supply crisis with considerable social and public health consequences. Nearly half (46%) of FINCA’s borrowers lack access to safe drinking water. % #

11,763 16% Client homes without electricity % #

35,289 48% Client homes without access to Internet % #

38,229 52% Clients who don’t own their home % #

7,973 11% Head of household with primary education or less Among FINCA borrowers, 89% live in a household headed by someone with greater than primary education. % #

16,966 53% Client homes without water % #

16,966 53% Client homes without electricity More clients lack electricity in Malawi than anywhere else in the region. % #

21,447 67% Client homes without access to Internet High taxes and poor infrastructure, among other obstacles, make access to the Internet prohibitively costly, % #

9,923 31% Clients who don’t own their home % #

16,806 53% Head of household with primary education or less % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

23,970 55% Client homes without water % #

21,791 50% Client homes without electricity % #

34,865 80% Client homes without access to Internet % #

15,951 37% Clients who don’t own their home % #

33,751 77% Head of household with primary education or less The educational levels in Tanzania are much lower than in the other African countries. % #

11,820 50% Client homes without water In addition to the health risks from contaminated sources, the lack of running water imposes a physical burden on family members -- often children -- who are required to collect and transport it back to the house. % #

12,103 51% Client homes without electricity The electrical grid in Uganda is extremely limited and poorly maintained. % #

18,675 79% Client homes without access to Internet % #

6,855 29% Clients who don’t own their home This indicator is high throughout Africa. % #

13,238 56% Head of household with primary education or less Only Tanzania has a higher incidence of household heads who have a primary education or less. % #

5,727 49% Client homes without water % #

2,805 24% Client homes without electricity This is somewhat better than the rural conditions in neighboring countries, but not as good as DRC, whose clientele is primarily urban, like Zambia's. % #

8,532 73% Client homes without access to Internet % #

4,675 40% Clients who don’t own their home % #

5,049 43% Head of household with primary education or less % #

View All Living Standards Data

More households are struggling to meet basic needs in Africa than in the other regions where FINCA works. Nearly half of our clients live without clean water in their homes, and a third of them are without electricity. This places an enormous burden on families—especially children, who are tasked with fetching wood and water, and whose health and education are compromised by poor living conditions. Nearly 40 percent of borrowers are unable to purchase a home, which denies them a basic means to build their wealth and to secure credit. FINCA cannot overcome all these challenges on its own, but the simple provision of accessible credit and savings services can at least give these families tools to manage their resources and make investments that will improve their quality of life.

Income & Employment

Africa:
Income & Employment

$4,464 22% Average annual profit As a % of the total sales % #

2.4 Average # of employees per client enterprise

379,714 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only.

102,640 27% Employees hired due to FINCA loan Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only. % #

209,972 55% Wages paid above the poverty line Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only. % #

$6,344 19% Average annual profit % #

2.2 Average # of employees per client enterprise

164,479 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

41,709 25% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

70,726 43% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

$2,727 27% Average annual profit FINCA clients in Malawi earn an average annual profit of $2,727, the second highest in the region. This represents 27% of their total sales. % #

2.9 Average # of employees per client enterprise Includes the owner. Our borrowers in Malawi generate more employment than any other FINCA subsidiary.

92,024 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

19,381 21% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

57,055 62% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$3,174 18% Average annual profit 18% of the total sales % #

2.4 Average # of employees per client enterprise

104,849 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

40,651 39% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

72,000 69% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$2,208 36% Average annual profit 36% of total sales. % #

1.6 Average # of employees per client enterprise

18,362 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

899 5% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

10,191 56% Wages paid above the poverty line The wages provided by FINCA clients in Zambia are lower than other subsidiaries in the region. % #

Explore FINCA Loan Sectors

Faced with high unemployment and low wages, most people in Africa rely on their own ingenuity to earn a living. Through small business and farming, FINCA borrowers in Africa generate about $4,100 per year in net income to sustain their families. They are also creating jobs for others. More than 350,000 people are employed by FINCA’s borrowers in Malawi, Tanzania, DRC and Zambia, at an average of 2.4 people per enterprise (including the owner). Most of the wages earned by these additional employees are above the national poverty line, creating a positive effect that extends into the community.

View All Income & Employment Data

Women’s Empowerment

Africa:
Empowering Women

88,420 46% Female borrowers The majority of female borrowers are the primary income-earners in their families. % #

33,322 18% Clients with female-headed household % #

84,542 46% Households with female as main earner . % #

90,521 56.3% Businesses run by women Most of the businesses funded by FINCA in Africa are run by women, ranging from 54% in Tanzania to 61% in Zambia. % #

194,873 44% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

185,720 48% Jobs created by women Among FINCA clients, women entrepreneurs in Africa create jobs at a slightly higher rate than men. % #

27,057 37% Female borrowers % #

10,215 14% Clients with female-headed household % #

31,497 43% Households with female as main earner % #

41,611 56.6% Businesses run by women % #

70,577 43% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

62,904 38% Jobs created by women % #

20,380 64% Female borrowers % #

6,689 21% Clients with female-headed household % #

16,723 52% Households with female as main earner % #

18,246 57.0% Businesses run by women % #

34,252 37% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

53,374 58% Jobs created by women 58% of total jobs created by FINCA Malawi borrowers were created by women. % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

2,750 47% Female borrowers % #

22,417 51% Female borrowers % #

9,376 22% Clients with female-headed household % #

21,352 49% Households with female as main earner Women are often the main breadwinner -- even if they are not the head-of-household. % #

23,534 54.0% Businesses run by women Tanzania is one of the few countries where women's business ownership is equal to their share of the overall client base. This means that they are using FINCA loans to run their own independent businesses. % #

49,247 47% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

60,813 58% Jobs created by women Altogether, women are employing almost 79,235 workers in their FINCA-funded enterprises. % #

9,463 40% Female borrowers % #

5,183 19% Clients with female-headed household % #

10,885 41% Households with female as main earner % #

6,353 54% Female borrowers % #

2,448 21% Clients with female-headed household % #

5,324 46% Households with female as main earner % #

7,130 61.0% Businesses run by women Almost two-thirds of the enterprises funded by FINCA in Zambia are headed by women (61%). % #

10,636 58% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

8,630 47% Jobs created by women % #

View All Women’s Empowerment Data

Women around the world are responsible borrowers and diligent savers who use their earnings to benefit their families. Women make up the majority of FINCA's borrowers in this region, and most of them are the main source of income in their family. Owning a business also enhances women's social status, particularly when they employ others.

Unfortunately, women are more likely to be left behind in the wave of financial technology, particularly where they are less educated and less familiar with the operation of smartphones. FINCA is bridging this divide by actively engaging women in the design and delivery of new services—including partnering with female shop owners, who can serve as community banking agents and utilize handheld devices to access FINCA bank accounts. These women are not only the beneficiaries of economic empowerment, they are its drivers, especially for other women.

Clients’ Goals

Goals Set By FINCA Borrowers

Goals Met By FINCA Borrowers

20,940 13% Start a business % #

86,856 54% Expand a business This is the most commonly-cited goal among our borrowers. % #

8,950 6% Invest in education % #

21,388 13% Improve their home Home improvement is the second highest goal for this region. % #

8,677 5% Buy an asset % #

9,300 6% Pay down debts % #

12,719 17% Start a business % #

38,156 52% Expand a business % #

5,734 8% Invest in education % #

4,632 6% Improve their home % #

4,117 6% Buy an asset % #

3,749 5% Pay down debts % #

3,359 10% Start a business % #

13,244 41% Expand a business % #

1,783 6% Invest in education % #

10,284 32% Improve their home % #

2,943 9% Buy an asset % #

384 1% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

4,227 10% Start a business % #

29,461 68% Expand a business % #

872 2% Invest in education % #

3,269 8% Improve their home % #

479 1% Buy an asset % #

5,012 12% Pay down debts Tanzania is the only country where paying down debts outranks home improvement. % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

635 5% Start a business % #

5,995 51% Expand a business % #

561 5% Invest in education % #

3,204 27% Improve their home % #

1,137 10% Buy an asset % #

155 1% Pay down debts % #

18,313 89% Start a business % #

75,163 86% Expand a business % #

7,919 89% Invest in education % #

19,191 84% Improve their home % #

55,939 83% Buy an asset % #

8,587 93% Pay down debts % #

18,313 89% Start a business % #

75,163 86% Expand a business % #

7,919 89% Invest in education % #

19,191 84% Improve their home % #

55,939 83% Buy an asset % #

8,587 93% Pay down debts % #

18,313 89% Start a business % #

75,163 86% Expand a business % #

7,919 89% Invest in education % #

19,191 84% Improve their home % #

55,939 83% Buy an asset % #

8,587 93% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

18,313 89% Start a business % #

75,163 86% Expand a business % #

7,919 89% Invest in education % #

19,191 84% Improve their home % #

55,939 83% Buy an asset % #

8,587 93% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

18,313 89% Start a business % #

75,163 86% Expand a business % #

7,919 89% Invest in education % #

19,191 84% Improve their home % #

55,939 83% Buy an asset % #

8,587 93% Pay down debts % #

View All Clients’ Goals Data

Over half of our borrowers in Africa use their loans to grow an existing business, while a smaller percentage are launching new ventures. Beyond business, the next highest priority is to improve their housing. FINCA helps put these aspirations within reach; the vast majority of clients say that our loans helped them (or are helping them) achieve these goals.

Special Topics

FINCA Loan Sectors

145,563 77% Trade % #

27,074 14% Services % #

7,075 4% Manufacturing % #

7,413 4% Crops % #

2,997 2% Livestock % #

62,564 85% Trade % #

8,234 11% Services % #

1,397 2% Manufacturing % #

662 1% Crops % #

588 1% Livestock % #

22,984 72% Trade % #

4,261 13% Services % #

1,591 5% Manufacturing % #

3,147 10% Crops % #

0 0% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

28,720 66% Trade % #

9,021 21% Services % #

2,092 5% Manufacturing % #

2,048 5% Crops % #

1,700 4% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

8,766 75% Trade % #

1,367 12% Services % #

900 8% Manufacturing % #

409 4% Crops % #

245 2% Livestock % #

Profit and Profit/Sales Ratio by Sector

$4,686 21% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,809 24% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$5,625 27% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,816 19% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,060 27% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,686 21% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,809 24% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$5,625 27% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,816 19% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,060 27% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,686 21% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,809 24% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$5,625 27% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,816 19% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,060 27% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$4,686 21% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,809 24% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$5,625 27% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,816 19% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,060 27% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$4,686 21% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,809 24% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$5,625 27% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,816 19% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,060 27% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

Jobs by Sector Due to FINCA Loan

75,960 74% Trade % #

17,492 17% Services % #

3,134 3% Manufacturing % #

4,209 4% Crops % #

1,846 2% Livestock % #

75,960 74% Trade % #

17,492 17% Services % #

3,134 3% Manufacturing % #

4,209 4% Crops % #

1,846 2% Livestock % #

75,960 74% Trade % #

17,492 17% Services % #

3,134 3% Manufacturing % #

4,209 4% Crops % #

1,846 2% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

75,960 74% Trade % #

17,492 17% Services % #

3,134 3% Manufacturing % #

4,209 4% Crops % #

1,846 2% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

75,960 74% Trade % #

17,492 17% Services % #

3,134 3% Manufacturing % #

4,209 4% Crops % #

1,846 2% Livestock % #