Measuring Progress 2021: Financial Inclusion in Selected ASEAN Countries

The 2021 report on financial inclusion in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) comes at a unique point in time. Even though the pandemic was already ongoing in 2020, the impact of the pandemic was not yet quantifiable in terms of the financial inclusion data and indicators collected.

For 2021 though, there are clear trends emerging, some of which are longer term and have been ongoing, but others arguably more directly related to the impact of events over the course of 2020 and 2021. In recognizing the deep social changes that have emerged as a result of the pandemic and seeking to build back better towards a more inclusive future, the 2021 tracking report seeks to embed the critical supporting role of financial inclusion in achieving the vision of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 within the context of inclusive growth.

This report serves as an annual reflection on progress on these measurable indicators on financial inclusion, based on an assessment of data availability and collection processes at national level.