Ethiopian women receive less than 18% of traditional bank credit value despite nearing borrower target

However, they receive only 17.3 percent of the total value of such credit, suggesting women access smaller loan amounts than men. The NBE's second Women’s Financial Inclusion Scorecard, covering 32 banks and data for 2025, highlights credit depth as a major barrier to women’s financial inclusion. Women are also underrepresented in financial accounts, holding 32.5 percent of active transaction accounts and 31.3 percent of active digital financial service accounts, both below the 50 percent benchmark.

Within the banking industry, women comprise 32.1 percent of employees but only 14.8 percent of senior management positions, against an NBE benchmark of 25 percent. Only six banks reported having a formal gender-inclusion strategy. Despite these disparities, women accounted for 47.6 percent of the value of innovative loans reported by banks, exceeding the NBE’s 30 percent benchmark, though the number of women receiving these loans is not specified.

The banking sector’s average score on women’s financial inclusion rose to 62.65 out of 100, with Enat Bank retaining its position as the sole market leader. The NBE notes that women’s financial inclusion is still constrained by gaps in credit depth, digital financial services, and senior-level representation.