Rural-Urban Differentials in Levels and Correlates of Financial Inclusion Among Nigerian Women Aged 18 to 49

Abstract

Globally, there is a gap in financial inclusion between men and women. Bridging this gap is imperative considering the impact of women’s financial inclusion on poverty eradication, household socioeconomic development, and attainment of related Sustainable Development Goals. In line with the Nigerian government’s efforts at scaling up financial inclusion and bridging the gender gap, this study assessed the level of women’s financial inclusion in Nigeria. It hypothesized that correlates vary between urban and rural Nigeria. Data from 36,601 women aged 18 to 49 were extracted from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. The data were analyzed at univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels. Results show the prevalence of women’s financial inclusion at 20.7%, 18.5%, and 22.2% at the national, urban, and rural levels, respectively. Women without education, whose husbands also had no education, and the poor were more financially included in rural areas but least in urban areas (p< 0.05). Education, wealth, and religion were significant correlates of financial inclusion in rural areas (p< 0.05), but not in urban areas. Therefore, strategies to scale women’s financial inclusion should be cognizant of the rural-urban differentials.