Financial Resilience in Earthquake-Prone Economies 2026
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Southern California on July 12, and blowing dust advisories blanketed Arizona amid monsoon storms — trending at 5,000+ and 1,000+ on Google Trends respectively. These events highlight a critical but often overlooked dimension of financial inclusion: the ability to weather a natural disaster financially.
When an earthquake hits, families need access to savings, insurance payouts, digital payments for emergency supplies, and mobile money when bank branches close. This report examines how financial resilience — as measured by account ownership, digital payments, insurance, mobile money adoption, and formal savings — compares across 16 economies that sit on major tectonic fault lines or face recurring natural hazards.
For the broader picture on financial inclusion worldwide, see our state of financial inclusion 2026 report. For how storm-prone economies compare, see our analysis of financial infrastructure in storm-prone economies 2026.
Account ownership: the first layer of resilience
Having a bank or mobile money account is the foundation of financial resilience — it allows families to receive emergency transfers, access savings, and make digital payments when cash becomes scarce. Among earthquake-prone economies, account ownership ranges from near-universal to barely a quarter of adults:
| Country | Account ownership (% of adults 15+) | Year | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 98.5% | 2024 | #13 of 145 |
| United States | 97.0% | 2024 | #25 of 145 |
| New Zealand | 97.9% | 2024 | #23 of 145 |
| Kenya | 90.1% | 2024 | #36 of 145 |
| India | 89.0% | 2024 | #40 of 145 |
| Italy | 86.0% | 2024 | #49 of 145 |
| Chile | 85.1% | 2024 | #51 of 145 |
| Turkiye | 81.6% | 2024 | #58 of 145 |
| Vietnam | 70.6% | 2024 | #78 of 145 |
| Nepal | 60.0% | 2024 | #92 of 145 |
| Indonesia | 56.3% | 2024 | #100 of 145 |
| Mexico | 53.0% | 2024 | #107 of 145 |
| Philippines | 50.2% | 2024 | #112 of 145 |
| Bangladesh | 43.3% | 2024 | #121 of 145 |
| Pakistan | 27.3% | 2024 | #137 of 145 |
Japan, New Zealand, and the United States are at or near universal account ownership, meaning nearly every adult has a way to receive digital payments or store savings. At the other end, only 27.3% of adults in Pakistan — which sits on the active collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian plates — have an account, leaving the vast majority reliant on cash that can be lost, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible after a disaster.
For the full account ownership rankings, see our report on how the world saves 2026 and how the world borrows 2026.
Mobile money: a lifeline when banks close
When an earthquake damages bank infrastructure, mobile money networks can remain operational — as long as cell towers are standing. Mobile money account ownership is dramatically higher in East Africa and parts of Asia, precisely in regions with high seismic risk:
| Country | Mobile money account (% adults) | Year | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 87.5% | 2024 | #1 of 87 |
| Vietnam | 38.7% | 2024 | #33 of 87 |
| Philippines | 28.8% | 2024 | #44 of 87 |
| Turkiye | 23.3% | 2024 | #46 of 87 |
| India | 23.1% | 2024 | #47 of 87 |
| Indonesia | 22.0% | 2024 | #48 of 87 |
| Bangladesh | 20.8% | 2024 | #49 of 87 |
| Pakistan | 18.4% | 2024 | #54 of 87 |
Kenya, the global leader at 87.5%, has the world’s most developed mobile money ecosystem. During the 2022 drought and other emergencies, mobile money transfers were a critical channel for aid distribution. In the Philippines, where typhoons and earthquakes are annual realities, 28.8% of adults have a mobile money account — and mobile money transactions reached 89.9% of GDP in 2023, the 14th-highest globally.
For more on how mobile money operates during crises, see our article on how mobile money helps during natural disasters.
Insurance: the safety net gap
Insurance is perhaps the most direct financial tool for disaster recovery, yet insurance services trade varies enormously across earthquake-prone economies:
| Country | Insurance & financial services trade (% of total trade) | Year | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 19.3% | 2024 | #15 of 176 |
| Haiti | 19.1% | 2024 | #17 of 176 |
| Mexico | 10.0% | 2024 | #31 of 176 |
| Kenya | 10.3% | 2024 | #30 of 176 |
| Italy | 8.4% | 2024 | #42 of 176 |
| Japan | 7.0% | 2024 | #47 of 176 |
| Chile | 6.1% | 2024 | #53 of 176 |
| Indonesia | 4.8% | 2024 | #64 of 176 |
| India | 3.1% | 2024 | #86 of 176 |
| Turkiye | 2.5% | 2024 | #97 of 176 |
| Bangladesh | 2.6% | 2024 | #95 of 176 |
| Pakistan | 1.8% | 2024 | #111 of 176 |
| Philippines | 1.0% | 2024 | #136 of 176 |
The United States leads at 19.3%, and its well-developed earthquake insurance market is critical for recovery. But in most earthquake-prone developing countries, formal insurance penetration is extremely low. The Philippines (1.0%), Pakistan (1.8%), and Bangladesh (2.6%) have minimal insurance services trade, leaving households to rely on informal coping mechanisms or government aid after a disaster.
For the full analysis of global insurance markets, see our article on how insurance markets differ across countries.
Formal savings: the buffer that matters
Savings provide the short-term liquidity families need in the days and weeks after a disaster. Formal savings rates among earthquake-prone countries show another stark divide:
| Country | Formal savings (% of adults) | Year | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 69.3% | 2021 | #4 of 142 |
| United States | 64.9% | 2021 | #10 of 142 |
| Japan | 63.8% | 2021 | #12 of 142 |
| Italy | 48.9% | 2021 | #29 of 142 |
| Vietnam | 43.1% | 2024 | #36 of 142 |
| Chile | 31.1% | 2021 | #50 of 142 |
| Turkiye | 27.4% | 2024 | #55 of 142 |
| India | 23.8% | 2024 | #66 of 142 |
| Indonesia | 22.6% | 2024 | #71 of 142 |
| Kenya | 20.1% | 2024 | #78 of 142 |
| Nepal | 20.3% | 2024 | #77 of 142 |
| Mexico | 17.2% | 2024 | #84 of 142 |
| Philippines | 10.3% | 2024 | #105 of 142 |
| Bangladesh | 9.7% | 2024 | #107 of 142 |
| Pakistan | 7.0% | 2024 | #126 of 142 |
New Zealand ranks 4th globally at 69.3% — unsurprising for the country with the most expensive housing in the world and a well-developed financial system. But in Pakistan (7.0%), Bangladesh (9.7%), and the Philippines (10.3%), most adults have no formal savings buffer at all, making them acutely vulnerable when an earthquake destroys homes and livelihoods.
For context on where mobile money is driving savings, see our article on how mobile wages drive financial inclusion.
What 2026 looks like
The Global Findex data shown here is from the 2021 and 2024 survey waves, and IMF Financial Access Survey data extends to 2023-2024. Most financial inclusion metrics do not have 2026 projections — the Findex survey runs every 3-4 years. However, trends are clear: digital payment adoption continues to grow in most countries, and mobile money ecosystems are expanding rapidly in the developing world. For our 2026 projections of financial access indicators, see how we project 2026.
Sources & method
Data comes from the World Bank Global Findex (account ownership, digital payments, mobile money, formal savings), the IMF Financial Access Survey (mobile money transactions, agents), and the World Bank World Development Indicators (insurance services trade, internet adoption, mobile subscriptions). The latest Findex wave is 2024 for many countries; IMF FAS data extends to 2023-2024.
Financial resilience is a multi-dimensional concept — account ownership alone does not guarantee that a household can withstand a disaster. Infrastructure quality, government safety nets, community networks, and hazard-specific insurance all play complementary roles. For more on our methodology, see our methodology page.
For related reading, see our report on where remittances matter most and our analysis of who exports financial services.