Financial inclusion and sustainable development: a bibliometric analysis of interdisciplinary research

This study investigates the relationship between financial inclusion and sustainable development by conducting a bibliometric analysis of interdisciplinary research published between 2014 and 2024. 658 documents were evaluated with the Scopus database and VOSviewer software to determine publishing trends, top authors, country contributions, and keyword co-occurrence patterns. The findings show a consistent increase in research output, with a dramatic increase after 2020, owing to global policy adjustments, post-COVID-19 recovery efforts, and the spread of digital financial services. China and India provide the largest contributions, although a small handful of authors have a tremendous impact on the intellectual landscape. Many publications are peer-reviewed journal articles that cover economics, social sciences, environmental science, and technology, emphasizing the field’s interdisciplinary nature. Keyword analysis reveals emerging topics, such as digital finance, green finance, renewable energy, and eco-innovation, which demonstrate the integration of social, economic, and environmental factors. There are still gaps in governance, regional representation, and cross-continental collaboration, indicating possibilities for further research. This paper provides an evidence-based overview of trends, significant contributors, and research gaps, as well as actionable suggestions for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to build inclusive, egalitarian, and climate-resilient financial systems in line with the SDGs.