Mapping the Research Landscape of Microfinance: A Bibliometric Analysis (2016–2024)

Microfinancing, as a transformative financial tool for financial inclusion, has gained important consideration for its potential to empower rural populations and disadvantaged groups, including women and people with disabilities, by providing access to credit and other financial services in fostering economic development and reducing poverty. This study explores the bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed articles covering the period 2016–2024 to map the research landscape of microfinance. The study utilised the PRISMA technique in the sampling procedure, which resulted in 1,439 sampled papers. VOSviewer software was used to assess publication trends, influential authors, and themes in the research domains. The findings show that microfinance it’s an active field that engages in publishing quality academic papers which address potential issues related to national and individual development. The statistics indicate that Carlos Serrano-Cinca is a prominent author in microfinancing literature, with 68 citations per paper. The principal research themes identified encompass financial inclusion, microfinance, microcredit, women’s empowerment, and poverty alleviation. Nonetheless, the identified significant deficiencies in microfinance research, the intersection of microfinance and technology is are underexplored area that requires attention to augment microfinance’s contribution to financial inclusion, sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation in financially marginalised communities. This study offers significant understandings for legislators, researchers, and other stakeholders of financial inclusion, aiming to enhance microfinance institutions worldwide to promote financial inclusion and sustainable development.