World Bank Warns of Growing Digital Divide in Sierra Leone Due to Low National ID Ownership

A new World Bank report has raised concerns over Sierra Leone’s widening digital and financial divide, linking it directly to the country’s low rates of national ID ownership.

The Global Findex Report, which monitors financial access in over 120 countries, found that while 95% of adults in low- and middle-income nations have government-issued IDs, many in Sierra Leone still lack this critical document. Without a national ID, citizens face barriers to essential services—including banking, mobile money, healthcare, and government assistance.

“ID is more than just a card—it’s a passport to participation in today’s digital economy,” said World Bank officials from its Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative. Yet for many Sierra Leoneans, that passport remains inaccessible.

The report reveals that about half of adults without IDs cite high costs as the primary obstacle, while others struggle with the distance to registration centers. Unlike some nations where missing documents are the main issue, Sierra Leone’s challenges stem from economic and infrastructural gaps—reflecting deeper systemic problems.

The consequences are far-reaching. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, one in three adults without an ID cannot access financial services—a critical issue in Sierra Leone, where digital finance is seen as key to economic inclusion. Without IDs, citizens are excluded from bank accounts, mobile money apps, and formal employment.

However, the report noted an unexpected finding: Sierra Leone reported fewer ID-less adults facing difficulties accessing government services compared to neighboring countries. This could suggest adaptive policies or data gaps, researchers noted.

The World Bank is calling for urgent reforms, including lowering ID costs and expanding registration in rural areas. For Sierra Leone’s push toward a digital future, improving ID access is not just bureaucratic—it’s a foundation for economic growth and equity.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}