In 2025, mobile money in Africa reached a record transaction volume of $1.432 trillion, according to the GSMA report, confirming the continent’s global leadership in this fintech sector. This figure illustrates the explosion of mobile financial services that are transforming the African economy by promoting financial inclusion for millions of users. Sub-Saharan Africa is leading this dynamic, with massive adoption of active accounts and rapidly growing merchant payments.

Key Figures from the GSMA Report

Africa processed $1.4 trillion in mobile money transactions in 2025, surpassing other regions and accounting for the majority of the global $2.1 trillion.

1.2 billion registered accounts and 347 million active users across the continent, with East Africa leading the way at $806 billion.

Merchant payments surged to $155 billion globally, becoming the fastest-growing use case.

African Leadership in Mobile Fintech

East Africa leads with 193 million active accounts, while Central Africa reaches 105 billion and North Africa shows 60% growth in volume.

Southern Africa, although more modest at 8 billion, demonstrates strong potential with the increasing number of active users.

This dominance is explained by the growing integration of mobile money into everyday economies, from P2P transfers to humanitarian payments.

Economic Impacts and Challenges

Beyond payments, mobile money boosts interoperability with banks ($160 billion in bilateral transactions) and supports the digitalization of businesses.

However, risks are emerging: transaction taxes, rising fraud, and persistent inequalities, particularly gender inequalities.

For Africa, this reinforces its pioneering role in digital finance, with monthly usage reaching 25.7% of registered accounts.

Outlook for 2026 and Beyond

Mobile money is evolving into a mature ecosystem, integrating AI and 5G for new services such as microloans and insurance.

In Africa, where the mobile sector already contributes 7.7% to GDP, these advances could boost its economic value to $270 billion by 2030.

African investors and regulators have a unique opportunity to capitalize on this inclusive revolution.