Fintech revolution: Africa emerges as the global leader in mobile money 🌍💰

Cliquez ici pour lire en français

According to the latest State of the Mobile Money Industry 2026 report published by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications), Africa recorded $1.5 trillion in transactions in 2025, equivalent to around 852,000 billion CFA francs.

These figures confirm Africa’s central role in the rise of digital payments, particularly through mobile money services—now an essential tool in many countries where access to traditional banking remains limited.

When GSMA reports a global record in digital transactions 🌍📊

The GSMA, a global organization representing the mobile ecosystem, brings together nearly 750 operators and device manufacturers across 220 countries, along with around 400 other companies in the sector.

In its latest flagship report, the organization provides a detailed overview of mobile money’s evolution worldwide. According to its tracking system, the industry now counts 2.3 billion registered accounts and 593 million active users globally.

These figures cover transactions across all five continents, highlighting the growing scale of digital payments within the global economy.

The volume of digital transactions has more than doubled over the past four years, driven by the global expansion of digital financial services and the rapid spread of mobile phones. In 2025, the total transaction value reached $2.1 trillion—around 1,192,800 billion CFA francs—marking a historic milestone for the mobile money industry.

Numbers that confirm Africa as the global leader in mobile money 🌍📈

Across the African continent, mobile money growth is nothing short of remarkable. Africa alone accounts for 1.2 billion accounts and nearly 347 million active users, confirming the crucial role these services play in everyday financial exchanges.

Within this continental dynamic, East Africa stands out significantly. The sub-region recorded $806 billion in transactions—around 457,808 billion CFA francs—with 193 million active accounts.

West Africa ranks second, with $498 billion in transactions, equivalent to approximately 282,864 billion CFA francs, and 517 million active accounts.

In other parts of the continent, volumes remain more modest. North Africa has around 30 million accounts, with transaction values estimated at $15 billion (about 8,520 billion CFA francs). Meanwhile, Southern Africa counts 33 million active accounts, with transactions valued at $8 billion (around 4,544 billion CFA francs).

According to the report’s analysts, these lower figures can largely be explained by “relatively high banking penetration rates in these two sub-regions,” which reduces reliance on mobile money as a primary payment solution.

Despite these regional disparities, the overall trend is clear: Africa remains the global leader in mobile money transactions. It is a model of financial innovation that is deeply reshaping economic habits across the continent.

What do you think? Could mobile money eventually become Africa’s primary financial system—and even compete with traditional banks in the long run? Let us know in the comments.