Éducation financière

Measuring Financial Literacy

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The OECD International Network on Financial Education (INFE) has developed a survey instrument to measure the financial literacy of adults from very different backgrounds in a wide range of countries.

In addition, the OECD has recently developed a financial literacy option within PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) to measure the financial literacy of 15 year olds. More information can be found here.

Pilot results from 14 countries

The results of the OECD/INFE financial literacy measurement pilot are now available as a working paper. The paper focuses on variations in financial knowledge, behaviour and attitude across 14 countries on 4 continents. It also explores differences in levels of financial literacy by socio-demographics within each of the countries.

The results highlight a lack of financial knowledge amongst a sizeable proportion of the population in each of the countries surveyed. Furthermore, there is considerable room for improvement in terms of financial behaviour. Attitudes are shown to vary widely.

Measuring Financial Literacy: Results of the OECD / International Network, OECD Working Papers on Finance, Insurance and Private Pensions, No. 15, OECD Publishing (pdf, 1.66 MB)

Questionnaire and guidance note

The OECD/INFE financial literacy measurement pilot tested a questionnaire developed to measure financial literacy around the world. This questionnaire, now finalised, is available for use by public authorities and other interested bodies to collect data that will enable countries to gather baseline information on levels of financial literacy, measure financial literacy within their country and undertake comparisons with other countries.

The questionnaire captures information about the population’s attitude towards financial matters as well as their behaviour and knowledge. Questions cover a wide range of relevant topics such as budgeting and money management, saving and long-term planning and the use of financial products.

The document also proposes a methodology to ensure cross-country comparability, and provides guidance on important considerations when commissioning a national survey. The annex offers suggestions on how to brief interviewers in preparation for the fieldwork.

Measuring Financial Literacy: Questionnaire and Guidance Notes (pdf, 816KB)

Supplementary questions for the questionnaire

A set of supplementary questions is also available. These are tried-and-tested questions across a range of relevant topics that can be used in addition to the core questionnaire to provide more detail at the national level.

Related documents

Framework for the Development of Financial Literacy Baseline Surveys: A First International Comparative Analysis, OECD Working Papers on Finance, Insurance and Private Pensions, No. 1

Repeated national surveys of financial literacy can be used to evaluate national strategies by measuring improvement over time. For guidance on evaluating specific financial education programmes, please go to the following link.

Additional information

The financial literacy results, questionnaire, supplementary questions and guidance notes were developed by the OECD International Network on Financial Education (INFE).

All users of the questionnaire are requested to reference the document in any publication, and to inform the OECD of their intentions [Adele Atkinson, tel: +33 1 45247864, adele.atkinson@oecd.org].

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