A Bibliometric Study on Financial Inclusion: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Financial inclusion research has expanded fast but the literature itself tells an awkward story. This study reviews 1,996 open access peer reviewed articles from the Dimensions database (2015–2025) using bibliometric analysis via the bibliometrix R package. Publication output grew at 31.56% CAGR over the period. Financial literacy, digital finance, credit access, and rural geography are the structural pillars of this field; FinTech and digital adoption are the fast moving edges. The country rankings cut against what you might expect: the UK, US, and Indonesia are the top three contributors by output. India ranks fourth, despite being the subject of most of this research. That asymmetry between who produces knowledge and who it is about runs through the whole field. Co-citation analysis reveals two distinct intellectual communities: one focused on household and gender outcomes, another on institutional finance and governance. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, and civil society organisations working on gender equitable finance in India and similar contexts.