Mastercard said its acceptance network across Africa expanded by 45 percent in 2025, marking a major increase in digital payment access for consumers and small businesses across the continent.
The company said the growth reflects accelerated adoption of digital payments, technology and innovation, positioning it to support what it estimates will be a 1.5 trillion dollar digital payments market in Africa by 2030. The expansion followed a year of new market entries, investment, product launches and a larger on the ground presence.
Mastercard has opened new offices over the past two years in Ghana, Uganda and Mauritius and plans to enter additional African markets in 2026. Its workforce on the continent grew by nearly 20 percent, a move the company said strengthened local capacity and enabled the development of solutions tailored to local merchants and communities.
The group also said it upgraded digital infrastructure including tokenization, digital identity and virtual card capabilities to improve security and convenience in online and in person payments.
Small and medium sized enterprises remain a central focus of the strategy. Mastercard cited rising consumer spending in several African markets as a driver of demand for digital tools that allow SMEs to accept payments, access credit and manage cash flow more efficiently.
In Morocco, Mastercard said it co developed the country’s first digital marketplace with Banque Centrale Populaire, the Ministry of Handicrafts and Paysky, benefiting about 2.3 million artisans. In Nigeria, new QR based payment solutions with local banks were rolled out to support SMEs and gig workers, while USD card programs were introduced to facilitate cross border trade. Similar partnerships were launched in Kenya, Mauritius and Tanzania, reaching more than 200,000 SMEs.
The company is also expanding financial inclusion initiatives in underserved areas through its Community Pass platform, which has reached 1.2 million smallholder farmers in Uganda. Mastercard said it aims to register 15 million users in Africa within five years through the initiative.
Looking ahead, Mastercard said artificial intelligence and automated commerce are expected to shape the next phase of Africa’s digital economy, with further expansion and locally adapted solutions planned from 2026 onward.
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