Nine out of ten Brazilians want to learn financial education in school, according to a poll | finance

The survey reveals that 84% of respondents globally say they have not received financial education in a school setting, but would like to. In Brazil, this percentage reaches 91%, one of the highest percentages among all the countries analyzed.

Despite the lack of formal training, Brazilians follow the global trend of viewing financial education as the second most important subject of the educational system, after only mathematics. Santander’s global report reinforces this diagnosis, showing that the issue is viewed as essential for making informed decisions and achieving financial well-being.

The research also shows that many Brazilians believe they have a good knowledge of finance. Among local residents, 73% said they feel confident managing their money, which is in line with the global average of 72%. However, this self-perception is not confirmed when basic concepts are tested. In a question about inflation, 73% of Brazilians got the answer wrong, and in another question about interest, 67% got it wrong, higher than the global average of 68% and 48%, respectively.

For Mario Leao, CEO of Santander Brazil, the results show that the country has room to move forward. “Our main conclusion, based on one of the largest surveys ever conducted globally on financial education, is that this subject captures the want and need of the majority of society. We see this in all the countries where we are present, and especially in Brazil, where we have a clear opportunity to evolve in our operations,” he said in a note. “We have an important role in this process, given our ability to mobilize public and private sector agents on the importance of enhancing the financial literacy of our residents.”

The study also shows the individual’s control over his own money. In the country, 84% say they monitor their monthly expenses, which is higher than the global average of 79%. Despite this, only 47% say they have enough savings to cover three months’ expenses – a sign of financial fragility that still exists.

Participation in formal financial education measures is low, but above the global average. In Brazil, 27% say they have taken a training course on the topic, compared to 20% globally. However, the benefits are widely recognized, with 66% of Brazilians believing that financial education improves the ability to make good decisions, 57% seeing a positive impact on resource and debt management, and 61% citing gains in family budget organization.

Areas of greatest interest in the country follow international trends. In Brazil, investments and savings were at the top, mentioned by 67% of respondents, while the global average was 63% and 61%, respectively.

The country also stood out for its confidence in digital financial management. Brazil is the only one of the ten countries surveyed where the level of confidence in using online tools is equal to the level of confidence in traditional methods. More than half of Brazilians (59%) use digital tools weekly to monitor their finances, while only 13% never use online resources. The widespread adoption of Pix, used by 87% of the population, helps explain this situation.

The research confirms that financial education is a shared responsibility between schools, families, and financial institutions. In Brazil and around the world, there is a growing perception that the subject needs to be regulated from an early age to reduce vulnerabilities, increase independence and strengthen people’s relationship with the financial system.