Case Study or Brief
Where Are the Micro- and Small Businesses Around the World?
Visualizing the Data
Authors Mastercard Strive
With the support of
Mastercard Strive analyzed global data to understand where micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) are located, what sectors they operate in, and how best to support them. Using data from the SME Finance Forum and the World Bank, they built a visual tool showing that:
- Definitions of MSEs vary across countries, with micro-businesses ranging from 0–4 to up to 9 employees.
- India and Indonesia have the largest numbers of MSEs globally.
- There are far more micro-enterprises (196 million) than small businesses (11 million), with micro-enterprises employing more people overall.
- Most MSEs work in services and trade, employing over 300 million people globally.
- MSEs contribute significantly to national economies, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to GDP in countries like Kenya and Indonesia.
Strive uses these insights to target its digital support programs for MSEs, aiming to help small businesses become drivers of inclusive economic growth.
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