developing economies, 2 in 10 adults did so, including about 40 percent who did so for the first time after COVID-19 emerged

The share of adults making digital merchant payments increased in developing economies after the outbreak of COVID-19

In 2021, for the first time, the Global Findex survey included an expanded module on digital merchant payments in developing economies, where 37 percent of adults made digital merchant payments (figure 2.1.14). This average is heavily skewed by the pervasive use of digital merchant payments in China (82 percent of adults). Excluding China, the average share of adults in developing economies making digital merchant payments is 20 percent. This percentage includes all respondents who made a purchase in a store using a debit or credit card or a mobile phone or the internet to pay directly from their account (digital in-store merchant payment). It also includes all respondents who made a purchase online and paid for it online directly from their account (digital online merchant payment). The share of adults making a digital merchant payment increased after the outbreak of COVID-19. In developing economies, excluding China, 8 percent of adults, on average, made their first digital merchant payment after the start of the pandemic, accounting for about 40 percent of those who made a digital merchant payment. The use of digital merchant payments varies considerably across developing economies. In Brazil, Mongolia, and South Africa, more than half of adults made a digital merchant payment (figure 2.1.15). About 20 percent of adults in these economies made a digital merchant payment for the first time after the onset of COVID-19. Social distancing and hygiene concerns during the pandemic may have accelerated the adoption of digital merchant payments in economies where a significant share of adults already made such payments pre–COVID-19 and where the infrastructure to accept these payments was in place. By contrast, in India, only about 12 percent of adults—fewer than 20 percent of account owners—made a digital merchant payment. However, two-thirds of those who made a digital merchant payment did so for the first time after the onset of COVID-19, suggesting that the pandemic may have spurred the adoption of digital payments even in economies with low adoption of digital merchant payments.

FIGURE 2.1.14 In China, 8 in 10 adults made a digital merchant payment, whereas in other developing economies, 2 in 10 adults did so, including about 40 percent who did so for the first time after COVID-19 emerged

Adults with an account (%), 2021

Made digital merchant payments for the first time after the start of COVID-19 Made digital merchant payments, but not for the first time after the start of COVID-19 Did not make digital merchant payments

Source: Global Findex Database 2021.