Latin America

56% Adult population financially excluded

27,167 80% Female borrowers Second-highest in the world, right after FINCA Haiti. % #

33,847 Total FINCA clients

17,939 53% Borrowers in rural areas Highest outside of Eurasia. % #

33,847 Total FINCA borrowers

72% Adult population financially excluded

45,479 89% Female borrowers % #

50,918 Total FINCA clients

20,367 40% Borrowers in rural areas % #

50,918 Total FINCA borrowers

57% Adult population financially excluded

16,725 64% Female borrowers % #

57,318 Total FINCA clients Honduras has more non-borrowing customers than any other subsidiary in the region.

8,358 32% Borrowers in rural areas % #

26,120 Total FINCA borrowers

72% Adult population financially excluded

10,251 63% Female borrowers FINCA Nicargua has one of the highest concentrations of female borrowers among our subsidiaries. % #

16,290 Total FINCA clients This number will increase with the launch of savings services for non-borrowing customers.

2,932 18% Borrowers in rural areas % #

16,290 Total FINCA borrowers

View All Financial Inclusion Data

Financial exclusion is high in Latin America, especially for women and the poor. Only 37 percent of woemn have access to a bank account in the countries where we work, compared to 46 percent of men. That figure falls even further to 27 percent for those at the bottom of the ladder.

Three out of four borrowers are women, putting Latin America in the lead on female outreach. In addition, Guatemala and Ecuador also have significant rural outreach, while Honduras and Nicaragua are operating in more urban markets. Most of FINCA's subsidiaries in Latin America are medium-sized, with 25 to 50 thousand borrowers. Nevertheless, three of them -- Honduras, Ecuador and Nicaragua -- have been licensed to take deposits, which allows them to offer a wider range of services beyond credit. In fact, savers outnumber borrowers by more than 2 to 1 in Ecuador and Honduras, showing that there is robust demand for services that allow people to safely store and accumulate their savings.

Living Standards

Latin America:
Quality of Life

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

61,886 43% Client homes without water % #

30,784 22% Client homes without electricity % #

65,313 46% Client homes without access to Internet % #

27,905 20% Clients who don’t own their home % #

86,816 61% Head of household with primary education or less % #

1,253 8% Client homes without water % #

0 0% Client homes without electricity % #

3,133 20% Client homes without access to Internet % #

1,880 12% Clients who don’t own their home % #

5,890 38% Head of household with primary education or less % #

5,077 15% Client homes without water % #

3,385 10% Client homes without electricity % #

14,216 42% Client homes without access to Internet % #

5,077 15% Clients who don’t own their home % #

26,028 77% Head of household with primary education or less This is the second-highest percentage in the world, just after Afghanistan. % #

45,113 87% Client homes without water % #

19,858 39% Client homes without electricity % #

27,801 55% Client homes without access to Internet % #

16,803 33% Clients who don’t own their home % #

27,954 55% Head of household with primary education or less % #

7,836 30% Client homes without water % #

7,052 27% Client homes without electricity % #

13,321 51% Client homes without access to Internet % #

3,657 14% Clients who don’t own their home % #

17,856 68% Head of household with primary education or less % #

2,606 16% Client homes without water Similar to the regional average. % #

489 3% Client homes without electricity Two times less than the regional average, reflecting FINCA Nicaragua's concentration in more urban areas. % #

6,842 42% Client homes without access to Internet % #

489 3% Clients who don’t own their home The rate of home ownership in Nicaragua is the highest outside of Eurasia. % #

9,087 56% Head of household with primary education or less While somewhat better than the regional average, this indicator is very high by global standards. % #

View All Living Standards Data

FINCA's clients in Latin America face serious challenges in their daily life. In Honduras, about a third of our borrowers lack water and/or electricity in their homes. In the whole region, nearly half of our clients live in a household where the main earner has less than a secondary education. In Guatemala, this figure is over 75 percent, placing it right ahead of Afghanistan, a country which has been at war for most of the last several decades.

These results sharpen the focus on improving the educational attainment and income-earning potential of our clients' children, so they can break the cycle of poverty. FINCA's mission is to provide tools and financial resources to these families -- especially the mothers -- so they can provide a basic quality of life that will foster this change from one generation to the next.

Income & Employment

Latin America:
Income & Employment

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

$3,397 30% Average annual profit Haiti and Honduras only. Nicaragua to be included later in 2018, % #

2.5 Average # of employees per client enterprise Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua only

230,114 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua only.

61,201 27% Employees hired due to FINCA loan Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua only. % #

86,655 38% Wages paid above the poverty line Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua only. % #

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

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.

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

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.

$1,799 22% Average annual profit % #

2.7 Average # of employees per client enterprise

137,392 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

42,631 31% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

32,974 24% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

$5,920 40% Average annual profit % #

2.0 Average # of employees per client enterprise

53,260 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

10,530 20% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

16,351 31% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

$4,346 39% Average annual profit % #

2.4 Average # of employees per client enterprise

39,461 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

8,041 20% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

37,330 95% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

Explore FINCA Loan Sectors

FINCA has completed its Enterprise Survey in Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. The data we have so far shows that Latin America is very close to the global average in most employment and income indicators. The typical FINCA client employs 2.5 people in her business, including herself. A quarter of this employment is due to the loan from FINCA. Profits comprise about 30 percent of total sales. Competition is very stiff, however, so the vast majority of paid workers are earning wages below the national poverty line. Many of our Latin American clients are themselves quite poor, and their businesses are usually a means of surviving under tough circumstances.

View All Income & Employment Data

Women’s Empowerment

Latin America:
Empowering Women

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

108,840 76% Female borrowers % #

27,038 19% Clients with female-headed household % #

64,860 45% Households with female as main earner % #

71,616 77% Businesses run by women % #

181,632 54% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

178,128 76% Jobs created by women % #

9,218 59% Female borrowers Like its peers in the region, FINCA Ecuador maintains a high level of outreach to women. % #

1,285 8% Clients with female-headed household % #

8,226 53% Households with female as main earner % #

27,167 80% Female borrowers Second-highest in the world, right after FINCA Haiti. % #

4,235 13% Clients with female-headed household % #

10,586 31% Households with female as main earner Guatemala is exceptional in that most of our female clients are secondary earners. % #

45,479 89% Female borrowers % #

11,339 22% Clients with female-headed household % #

25,091 49% Households with female as main earner % #

41,906 82% Businesses run by women % #

59,065 43% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

120,630 88% Jobs created by women % #

16,725 64% Female borrowers % #

6,747 26% Clients with female-headed household % #

13,235 51% Households with female as main earner % #

18,650 71% Businesses run by women Note that this is higher than the number of female borrowers, because the data are from an Enterprise survey, which is done separately from the household survey. % #

40,225 76% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

35,072 66% Jobs created by women % #

10,251 63% Female borrowers FINCA Nicargua has one of the highest concentrations of female borrowers among our subsidiaries. % #

3,432 21% Clients with female-headed household % #

7,723 47% Households with female as main earner % #

11,061 68% Businesses run by women % #

19,385 49% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

22,426 57% Jobs created by women % #

View All Women’s Empowerment Data

FINCA subsidiaries in Latin America excel in reaching women, most of whom are the primary breadwinner in their households. In Nicaragua and Honduras, about half of these women are also single parents who carry the full burden of their family's well-being. By contrast, our clients in Guatemala are living in more traditional rural families and contributing supplementary income to their household.

Whatever their family situation, virtually all of the women in Latin America are running their own enterprises. In other regions, it is relatively more common for men to be involved in our clients' businesses. Unsurprisingly, Latin America is the only region in which the employees in our clients' firms are also mostly women, showing that female entrepreneurs can a driving force in creating jobs for other women.

Clients’ Goals

Goals Set By FINCA Borrowers

Goals Met By FINCA Borrowers

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

7,603 8% Start a business % #

50,755 54% Expand a business % #

1,082 1% Invest in education % #

13,284 14% Improve their home % #

4,741 5% Buy an asset % #

5,706 6% Pay down debts % #

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

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.

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

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.

3,208 6% Start a business % #

35,948 71% Expand a business % #

458 1% Invest in education % #

2,800 6% Improve their home % #

102 0% Buy an asset % #

2,291 5% Pay down debts % #

3,711 14% Start a business % #

8,747 33% Expand a business % #

428 2% Invest in education % #

6,770 26% Improve their home % #

3,548 14% Buy an asset % #

1,672 6% Pay down debts % #

684 4% Start a business % #

6,060 37% Expand a business % #

195 1% Invest in education % #

3,714 23% Improve their home % #

1,091 7% Buy an asset % #

1,743 11% Pay down debts % #

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

6,282 81% Start a business % #

35,900 71% Expand a business % #

970 89% Invest in education % #

9,533 65% Improve their home % #

3,633 35% Buy an asset % #

2,809 48% Pay down debts % #

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

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.

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

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.

6,282 81% Start a business % #

35,900 71% Expand a business % #

970 89% Invest in education % #

9,533 65% Improve their home % #

3,633 35% Buy an asset % #

2,809 48% Pay down debts % #

6,282 81% Start a business % #

35,900 71% Expand a business % #

970 89% Invest in education % #

9,533 65% Improve their home % #

3,633 35% Buy an asset % #

2,809 48% Pay down debts % #

6,282 81% Start a business % #

35,900 71% Expand a business % #

970 89% Invest in education % #

9,533 65% Improve their home % #

3,633 35% Buy an asset % #

2,809 48% Pay down debts % #

View All Clients’ Goals Data

Each borrower comes to FINCA with a unique goal in mind. In Haiti, most of our clients are focused on expanding their businesses. Meanwhile, in Honduras, clients are striving for a wider range of goals, including improving their home, and purchasing assets.

Nicaragua's client survey is presently in the field -- check back in the fall of 2018 to see the results.

Special Topics

FINCA Loan Sectors

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

104,012 73% Trade % #

21,930 15% Services % #

9,833 7% Manufacturing % #

773 1% Crops % #

5,380 4% Livestock % #

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

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.

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

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.

43,993 86% Trade % #

4,888 10% Services % #

1,680 3% Manufacturing % #

0 0% Crops % #

0 0% Livestock % #

11,863 45% Trade % #

6,394 24% Services % #

4,435 17% Manufacturing % #

0 0% Crops % #

3,319 13% Livestock % #

12,103 74% Trade % #

3,046 19% Services % #

310 2% Manufacturing % #

505 3% Crops % #

195 1% Livestock % #

Profit and Profit/Sales Ratio by Sector

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

$3,523 29% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

4,268 33% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,263 35% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,567 9% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,908 19% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

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

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.

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

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.

$3,523 29% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

4,268 33% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,263 35% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,567 9% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,908 19% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$3,523 29% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

4,268 33% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,263 35% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,567 9% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,908 19% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$3,523 29% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

4,268 33% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,263 35% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,567 9% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,908 19% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

Jobs by Sector Due to FINCA Loan

Latin America Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua

41,817 68% Trade % #

9364 15% Services % #

5,757 9% Manufacturing % #

2,133 3% Crops % #

2,131 3% Livestock % #

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

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.

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

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.

41,817 68% Trade % #

9364 15% Services % #

5,757 9% Manufacturing % #

2,133 3% Crops % #

2,131 3% Livestock % #

41,817 68% Trade % #

9364 15% Services % #

5,757 9% Manufacturing % #

2,133 3% Crops % #

2,131 3% Livestock % #

41,817 68% Trade % #

9364 15% Services % #

5,757 9% Manufacturing % #

2,133 3% Crops % #

2,131 3% Livestock % #