In a significant boost for Africa's digital transformation, Mastercard has reported a massive 45% growth in its acceptance network across the continent in 2025. This leap forward is bringing millions more consumers and small businesses into the formal digital economy, accelerating progress that would traditionally have taken years.
Strategic Expansion and Local Investment
This surge is the result of a concerted push by Mastercard to deepen its roots in Africa. The company has opened new offices in Ghana, Uganda, and Mauritius over the past two years, with plans to enter more markets in 2026. To support this growth, Mastercard increased its employee base across Africa by almost 20%, ensuring local expertise drives the creation of tailored solutions.
Alongside physical expansion, Mastercard has invested in critical digital infrastructure. Upgrades in areas like tokenization, digital identity, and virtual card enhancements are making online and in-person payments safer, more secure, and more convenient for everyone.
Empowering SMEs: The Engine of Africa's Economy
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of Mastercard's African strategy. With consumer spending rising in key markets like Nigeria (6%), Kenya (4%), Morocco (3.4%), and South Africa (1.9%), the demand for digital payment tools has skyrocketed. These tools help SMEs pay and get paid easily, access credit, and operate securely.
Mastercard has launched 15 new SME-focused programs in the last 18 months through collaborations with governments, telcos, and FMCGs. Key achievements include:
- Nigeria: New QR-on-Card solutions with UBA and WEMA Bank are enabling 1.8 million SMEs and gig workers to accept seamless payments. USD cards with Zenith Bank are supporting over 50,000 SMEs with cross-border trade.
- Morocco: Co-creation of the country's first Digital Marketplace with BCP Bank and others, benefiting 2.3 million artisans.
- East Africa: Collaborations with banks in Kenya, Mauritius, and Tanzania have empowered over 200,000 SMEs with digital solutions.
- South Africa: Programs with partners are unlocking growth and addressing credit access for thousands of small businesses.
Driving Financial Inclusion in Underserved Communities
Mastercard is extending digital access beyond urban centers. Its Community Pass initiative, a digital platform connecting remote communities to essential services, has already reached 1.2 million smallholder farmers in Uganda. The goal is to register 15 million users in Africa within five years.
Furthermore, through the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance, Mastercard and partners aim to expand digital access to 100 million individuals and businesses by 2034. In Kenya, the alliance has already provided digital training and tools to tens of thousands of farmers.
Leadership and Future Outlook
"2025 has been a defining year for Mastercard in Africa," said Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa. "Our focus has been on solutions that bring people and small businesses into the heart of the digital economy... as we collectively look towards a $1.5 trillion digital economy by 2030."
Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager for West Africa, highlighted the region's potential: "West Africa is one of the continent’s fastest-growing digital corridors. Mastercard’s security-led innovations and acceptance expansion helped more SMEs and young entrepreneurs access modern payments."
Looking ahead, Mastercard sees technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI)—with Africa's market projected to hit $16.5 billion by 2030—as key to the next leap. In 2026, the company will continue to advance financial inclusion, expand into new markets, and introduce more locally relevant digital solutions to build a more secure and connected African economy.
