The World Bank’s ID4D-Findex 2025 Database shows notable progress in identification systems but warns of persistent digital and equity divides affecting billions. Asia-Pacific countries lead in digital identity innovation, with platforms like Singapore’s SingPass enabling secure online transactions across government and private services. Yet, 2.9 billion people worldwide still lack access to online digital IDs for remote transactions, underscoring the need for practical use cases such as Thailand’s linkage of IDs to bank accounts for rapid emergency aid.

Exclusion remains a critical challenge, disproportionately impacting women, rural communities, and the less educated. As economies digitize, these gaps risk deepening inequality. Countries like Indonesia are prioritizing inclusion through initiatives such as the Identitas Kependudukan Digital (IKD) app, designed to expand access for marginalized groups.

The report concludes that infrastructure alone is insufficient. Sustained efforts are needed to ensure ID systems are trusted, widely used, and fully inclusive, to provide the legal identity essential for secure access to services both online and offline.

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