Egypt’s Financial Inclusion Rate Reaches 79% as Active Accounts Hit 56.4 Million

Financial inclusion in Egypt rose to 79% by the end of June 2026, with 56.4 million citizens aged 15 and above holding active financial accounts that enable them to conduct financial transactions.

The figure represents significant progress in expanding access to formal financial services across the country. The total eligible population stood at 71.4 million citizens, with active accounts covering bank and postal accounts, mobile wallets and prepaid cards.

Women recorded particularly strong gains in financial inclusion. The rate increased from 19.1% in 2016 to 72.5% in June 2026, representing a 327% growth over the period. Among young people aged 15 to 35, financial inclusion increased from 36.3% in 2020 to 58% in June 2026, an 85% increase.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) attributed the progress to continued efforts by the central bank and the financial sector, alongside targeted programmes aimed at economically empowering women and young people and bringing underserved groups into the formal financial system.

The developments also reflect progress under Egypt’s Financial Inclusion Strategy 2022–2025, which was developed in coordination with relevant ministries and government authorities. Data from the CBE’s Financial Inclusion Datahub showed a 229% increase in the ownership and use of financial services between 2016 and June 2026.

Several government initiatives have supported the expansion, including the presidential Decent Life (Haya Karima) initiative and the Transforming the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers project. Programmes targeting women and youth have also been implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Council for Women.

Building on these gains, the CBE is developing Egypt’s Second National Financial Inclusion Strategy for 2026–2030 in collaboration with relevant ministries and authorities. The new strategy will focus not only on access to financial services but also on their effective, secure and sustainable use.

The strategy is expected to support businesses and entrepreneurs while encouraging the integration of Egypt’s informal economy into the formal financial system. It will focus on three core dimensions of financial inclusion: access, usage and quality.

Its development is being informed by a financial services demand-side survey conducted during the first quarter of 2026 with technical assistance from the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, in cooperation with the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The survey is designed to identify gaps and barriers to financial service usage and support evidence-based policymaking.

The 2026–2030 strategy will also promote digital financial solutions and innovation, sustainable finance and the transition to a green economy. Other priorities include financial education and literacy, consumer protection, SME and entrepreneurship development, public-private partnerships, and stronger financial and technological infrastructure.