Payment in Argentina Current Demand Behavior Analysis¶
Demand Behavior¶
Detailed report on the number of individual and business consumers.¶
The final customers in the Argentinian payment industry are broadly categorized into individual consumers (B2C) and businesses (B2B).
Individual Consumers (B2C): This segment comprises the population of Argentina, which was over 45.7 million people as of 2023. [Source: Final Customers Identification] A key indicator of financial inclusion and potential for electronic payment adoption among individuals is the number of accounts. By 2024, Argentina had nearly 200 million combined CBU (traditional bank accounts) and CVU (virtual accounts, often associated with digital wallets) accounts. This number exceeds the total adult population, indicating that many individuals hold multiple accounts. [Source: Economía Solidaria - Argentina aumentó a casi 200 millones de cuentas CBU+CVU en 2024] Individual consumers are the end-users initiating payments for personal consumption and transfers.
Business Consumers (B2B): This segment primarily consists of merchants of varying sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, operating in both physical and online environments. These businesses are customers of other players in the value chain, particularly Acquirers and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), from whom they purchase services to accept electronic payments from consumers. While a specific total number of businesses utilizing electronic payments is not provided, the increasing adoption of POS terminals, online payment gateways, and QR code acceptance by merchants signifies a growing number of businesses participating in the digital payment ecosystem. Businesses also use electronic payments for their operational needs, such as payroll and supplier payments.
Table showing the growth/decline in the number of customers.¶
While direct year-over-year numbers for the total count of individual and business customers (as distinct from the population or number of accounts/transactions) are not explicitly provided, the available data on account numbers and transaction volumes strongly indicates a trend of growth in the adoption and usage of electronic payment methods by both segments.
| Customer Segment | Metric | 2023 Data | 2024 Data (or Latest) | Growth/Decline Trend | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Combined CBU + CVU Accounts | Not specified | Nearly 200 million | Growth (number exceeds adult population, indicating multiple account holdings). [Source: Economía Solidaria - Argentina aumentó a casi 200 millones de cuentas CBU+CVU en 2024] | Economía Solidaria - Argentina aumentó a casi 200 millones de cuentas CBU+CVU en 2024 |
| Individual | Immediate Transfers Volume | Substantially lower | 1.8 bn (Q3 2024) | Significant Growth (+47% YoY in Q3 2024). [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Infobae. Fuerte cambio en los medios de pago: las transferencias inmediatas... |
| Individual | QR Code Transfers Volume | Substantially lower | High volume within immediate transfers | Exponential Growth (+212% YoY in Q3 2024). [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Infobae. Fuerte cambio en los medios de pago: las transferencias inmediatas... |
| Individual | Debit Card Transactions | Substantially lower | 3 bn (approx) | Growth (+23% volume growth YoY). [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Value Chain Analysis |
| Individual | Prepaid Card Volume | Substantially lower | High volume | Significant Growth (+39% YoY). [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Value Chain Analysis |
| Business | E-commerce Market Size | USD 26.7 billion | Growing (implied by trends) | Growth (driven by increasing online activity and payment adoption). [Source: Americas Market Intelligence. E-commerce en Argentina: estadísticas y datos 2023] | Americas Market Intelligence. E-commerce en Argentina: estadísticas y datos 2023 |
| Business | Digital Wallet Use (POS) | Lower percentage | 18% of POS payments | Growth in adoption for physical store payments. [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Infobae. La Argentina es el país de América Latina donde más se usan las billeteras digitales para pagar en los comercios. |
| Business | Digital Wallet Use (E-commerce) | Lower percentage | 38% of e-commerce payments | Significant Growth in adoption for online payments. [Source: Value Chain Analysis] | Infobae. La Argentina es el país de América Latina donde más se usan las billeteras digitales para pagar en los comercios. |
Based on the substantial increases in electronic transaction volumes across immediate transfers, QR code payments, and card usage, and the significant number of digital accounts (CBU/CVU) available, the number of both individual and business customers actively participating in the electronic payment ecosystem in Argentina is growing. While the informal economy still presents a challenge, the trends indicate a clear shift away from cash towards digital payment methods for both consumers and the businesses that serve them. [Source: Value Chain Analysis], [Source: Final Customers Identification]
References¶
- Americas Market Intelligence. E-commerce en Argentina: estadísticas y datos 2023. https://americasmi.com/es/blog/e-commerce-argentina-estadisticas/
- Economía Solidaria. Argentina aumentó a casi 200 millones de cuentas CBU+CVU en 2024. https://www.economiasolidaria.com.ar/noticias/economia-solidaria/argentina-aumento-a-casi-200-millones-de-cuentas-cbu-cvu-en-2024
- Infobae. Fuerte cambio en los medios de pago: las transferencias inmediatas de dinero aumentaron casi 50% en 2024. https://www.infobae.com/economia/2024/12/19/fuerte-cambio-en-los-medios-de-pago-las-transferencias-inmediatas-de-dinero-aumentaron-casi-50-en-2024/
- Infobae. La Argentina es el país de América Latina donde más se usan las billeteras digitales para pagar en los comercios. https://www.infobae.com/tecno/2024/12/04/la-argentina-es-el-pais-de-america-latina-donde-mas-se-usan-las-billeteras-digitales-para-pagar-en-los-comercios/
- Final Customers Identification
- Value Chain Analysis