What you'll learn in this article
The cumulative impact of Kiva reaching over 5.5 million people
Key milestones in supporting women, refugees, U.S. entrepreneurs, and climate-threatened communities
Insights from borrowers and the impact of their loans
As I look back on 2024, I’m inspired by the strength and determination of Kiva’s global community. Together, we’ve made real progress toward our goal of financial access for all. This year, we reached millions of individuals and communities, opening doors to new opportunities and tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges.
Kiva has reached more than 5.5 million people since we began; that’s roughly the same size as the entire population of Norway! In 2024, we provided $188 million in loans, reaching an additional 401,744 people with the financial access they need to support their families, see their businesses thrive, and achieve their dreams.
Of the nearly 200,000 loans we dispersed in 2024, 79% were directed to underbanked women, 10% to refugees and people impacted by forced displacement, 11% to communities affected by climate change, and just under 1% to U.S. marginalized populations. These numbers aren’t just statistics—they represent lives changed and brighter futures for families.
Stand out achievements
One of the most meaningful parts of this year was our focus on supporting women with financial access. In total, more than 4.5 million women have benefited from Kiva loans. This brings us closer to our goal of helping 8 million women by 2028. We also continued to shift our focus beyond number of women served to understanding exactly how well Kiva and our partners are serving women and what outcomes they achieve thanks to their Kiva loans.
We also worked hard to help refugees and displaced people. This year, Kiva reached over 17,000 individuals in this group, which is a 13% increase from last year. Loans for this community reached refugees in 12 countries, with Uganda seeing the highest volume. This is the first time a country in Africa has received the highest number of refugee-related loans since our founding.
When it comes to climate-threatened people, Kiva focused on helping communities adapt and build resilience. This year, over 73,000 individuals in climate-affected areas benefited from loans that support renewable energy, sustainable farming, and other innovative solutions. More than 50% of climate-threatned people reached were served through direct loans to social enterprises, including organizations focused on climate-smart agriculture and solar power solutions.
Finally, our work to expand financial access for marginalized U.S. entrepreneurs continued to grow in 2024, supporting over 600 small businesses across the country with credit-building loans. Of all U.S. businesses reached, 77% were owned by BIPOC entrepreneurs. We also onboarded five new Kiva U.S. hub partners, expanding our reach into new communities, and translated the U.S. loan application into 30+ languages.
Listening and learning from Kiva loan recipients
In 2024, we expanded how we measure the impact of our work. Through our ongoing partnership with 60 Decibels, we were able to survey more than 14,500 borrowers across 55 of our Lending Partners. What we learned was powerful: 8 in 10 clients reported an increase in business income, 85% said their financial skills improved, and 89% said their lives were better overall because of their loans. These insights remind us why this work is so important and help us improve what we do.
Looking ahead to 2025
As we continue into 2025, our mission is clear. We are committed to supporting our impact populations with the financial access they need to thrive.
To everyone in the Kiva community—borrowers, lenders, partners, volunteers, and staff—thank you for making this possible. Your dedication fuels everything we do. As we reflect on the stories of hope and perseverance from 2024, I’m reminded of what we can achieve together. Let’s continue this momentum into 2025 and keep building a world of possibilities.
With gratitude, 🙏💚 Vishal Ghotge CEO, Kiva
