A new research project conducted by Cornell University students reveals a striking global divide in Bitcoin adoption, with El Salvador ranking far ahead of every other country surveyed.
According to the study, 72% of Salvadorans say they have owned Bitcoin, a figure unmatched across the 25 countries included. By comparison, just 24% of respondents in the United States reported ever owning the asset.
El Salvador Tops Global Rankings
The chart, compiled with the support of the Cornell Bitcoin Club, the Human Rights Foundation, the Reynolds Foundation, and Cornell’s Tech Policy Institute, places El Salvador in the number one position for both lifetime (“ever”) and current Bitcoin ownership.
The data shows:
- •El Salvador leads with the highest percentage of people who have ever held Bitcoin – around 72%.
- •Strong adoption also appears in Venezuela, Nigeria, Turkey, and the UAE, all above many European nations and the U.S.
- •The United States sits near the middle of the chart, with 24% having ever owned Bitcoin and a noticeably smaller percentage still holding it.
The survey highlights how emerging economies, especially those facing inflation, currency volatility, or financial exclusion, are adopting Bitcoin at significantly higher rates than wealthier Western countries.
Global Disparities Remain Clear
Countries such as Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, India, and Argentina show widespread historical ownership as well, all reflecting a trend toward greater Bitcoin usage in regions where traditional financial infrastructure faces challenges.
Meanwhile:
- •European economies like Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland show lower adoption rates.
- •Japan ranks at the bottom of the list, with some of the lowest levels of both past and current Bitcoin ownership.
- •Current Bitcoin ownership data for China and Hong Kong was not collected due to regulatory restrictions.
A Snapshot of How the World Holds Wealth
This comparative study underscores how Bitcoin adoption varies dramatically depending on geography and economic conditions. While Western nations remain slower to embrace the asset, countries dealing with monetary instability are increasingly turning to Bitcoin as an alternative store of value or financial tool.
El Salvador’s top ranking reflects the country’s unique position as the first in the world to grant Bitcoin legal tender status, an experiment that appears to have translated into widespread personal adoption across its population.