A. M. 
79.2% of people in El Salvador have a debit card, according to data from the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR), obtained through the 2025 Financial Inclusion and Education Survey. This figure reflects significant progress in access to basic financial instruments, although the study also reveals inequalities based on gender, region, and age, as well as barriers that limit their effective use.
According to the survey, access to debit cards is greater among men than women. 83.4% of men own a card, compared to 74% of women, marking a gap of more than nine percentage points. In contrast, 16.6% of men and 26% of women do not have this payment method, highlighting remaining challenges in financial inclusion with a gender focus.
Differences between urban and rural areas
El acceso también varía según el lugar de residencia. En la zona urbana, el 82.1% de las personas tiene tarjeta de débito, mientras que en la zona rural la proporción baja al 67.3%. En estas áreas, el 32.7% de la población no cuenta con tarjeta, casi el doble del porcentaje registrado en las ciudades, lo que refleja limitaciones de acceso a servicios financieros y canales bancarios en el ámbito rural.
Access by age group
The BCR survey shows that debit card ownership linked to bank accounts is higher among younger age groups. In the 18-25 age range, 87.9% own a card, followed by the 26-35 age group at 86.4%. From age 36 onward, the proportion begins to decrease: 79.8% among 36-45 year olds, 72.1% among 46-60 year olds, and 65.2% among those 61 and older, where more than a third do not use this payment method.
Why some people don’t use debit cards
Although access is high, not everyone who owns a debit card uses it regularly. The main reasons for not using it include disinterest, cost, and lack of knowledge.
According to the survey, 26.2% of respondents indicated they are not interested in or do not need a debit card, making this the most frequently cited reason. This is followed by 25% who stated they do not want to pay the associated costs, and 20.7% who indicated they cannot use one. Additionally, 17.2% do not know how debit cards work, 12.9% prefer using cash because they consider it more immediate and under their control, and 10.5% express fear of fraud or card cloning. Other factors include a lack of familiarity with ATMs (6.3%) and a preference for electronic transfers (5.4%).
Challenges for Financial Inclusion
The BCR points out that, while debit card ownership is high, the main challenge is achieving effective and equitable use. Gaps based on gender, age, and geographic location, along with lack of information and disinterest, highlight the need to strengthen financial education, reduce costs, and expand access to banking services, especially in rural areas.
The results of the Encuesta de Inclusión y Educación Financiera 2025 confirm that the country has made progress in financial inclusion, but also show that financial inclusion is not limited to access; it requires trust, knowledge, and the right conditions for more people to fully utilize formal financial services.
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