On 11 June, the Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Buah Saidy, revealed that between 2019 and 2025, the country’s financial inclusion rate increased by 332%, from 19% to 82%.

Speaking at the launch of the FinScope Consumer Survey 2025, the Governor said the survey findings reflect a transformative shift in access to financial services across the country, attributing the growth to the expansion of mobile money services, alongside the contributions of fintech companies, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, credit unions, and development partners.

Governor Saidy also outlined a series of reforms aimed at deepening financial inclusion and strengthening the digital financial ecosystem. These include restructuring the natural payment infrastructure, Gamswitch, to enable seamless interoperability between banks, mobile money operators, and fintech firms.

“We must not rest until every Gambian, regardless of gender, age, or location, has the opportunity to participate fully in our financial system,” said Governor Saidy. “Let us celebrate how far we have come, but let us also renew our resolve to do even more in the future. Together we can build a Gambia where no one is left behind.”

“As data practitioners, we look at the numbers to tell us the real story of human impact,” said AFI Senior Policy Manager, Luis Trevino. “When we compare this 2025 data set to our 2019 baseline, the structural shifts in The Gambia’s financial landscape are profound.”