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Mobile money transactions hit a historic $2 trillion in 2025, doubling in value since 2021 as the sector recorded sustained growth in active users. Monthly active mobile money accounts also posted their strongest expansion since 2021, underscoring rising adoption and deeper usage across global markets.
Global Mobile Money Transactions Top $2 Trillion in 2025 as Financial Inclusion Accelerates
Global mobile money transactions surpassed $2 trillion in 2025, marking a historic milestone for the industry, according to the State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2026 released by the GSMA Mobile Money Programme.
RELATED: Mobile money surpasses 2 billion accounts globally in 2024, says GSMA
The report highlights the sector’s rapid expansion, noting that while it took nearly 20 years for annual transaction values to reach $1 trillion, the figure doubled in just four years, underscoring accelerating adoption and scale.
Mobile Money Becomes a Mainstream Financial Service
Twenty-five years after its introduction, mobile money has evolved from a basic money-transfer solution into a mainstream digital financial service, particularly for underserved and unbanked populations.
In 2025 alone, the number of registered mobile money accounts rose to 2.3 billion, reflecting an increase of 268 million new accounts globally. The growth demonstrates mobile money’s growing role in driving economic participation and inclusion across emerging and developed markets alike.
GSMA: Mobile Money Is Reshaping Global Finance
Commenting on the findings, Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said mobile money has become one of the world’s most impactful financial innovations.
He noted that the ecosystem has matured significantly, with transaction values now growing faster than volumes, reflecting deeper usage and trust. Badrinath also emphasized the need for the industry to focus on interoperability, cross-border harmonisation, consumer protection, fraud controls, and women’s financial inclusion to sustain responsible growth.
Regular Usage Rises, but Inactivity Remains a Challenge
The report shows that active 30-day mobile money accounts increased by 15% to 593 million in 2025, driven largely by growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, though nearly all regions recorded gains. Monthly activity rates rose to 25.7%, the highest level since 2021.
However, nearly 75% of registered accounts remain inactive on a monthly basis, with challenges such as fraud risks and transaction taxes in some countries pushing users back to cash-based alternatives.
Adjacent Services Improve Financial Health
Increased usage is enabling users to strengthen their financial health, defined as the ability to manage daily expenses, absorb financial shocks, and invest for the future. This is supported by the expansion of adjacent services such as credit, savings, and insurance.
The report found that the number of mobile money providers offering insurance grew by one-third in 2025, while mobile-enabled credit and savings products are now widely available across markets.
Regulation Boosts Inclusion, but Gaps Persist
Supportive regulation continues to play a critical role in the sector’s growth. Over 60% of mobile money providers surveyed said that rules around interoperability, know-your-customer (KYC), and consumer protection have strengthened their operations.
Nonetheless, regulatory hurdles remain, particularly around cross-border data transfers, which nearly a quarter of providers say hinder service expansion. Gender disparities also persist, with women in most surveyed countries less likely than men to actively use mobile money accounts—except in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Driving Innovation and Humanitarian Impact
Beyond financial inclusion, mobile money is increasingly supporting humanitarian response and social impact, enabling rapid digital payouts during emergencies, especially in remote areas.
The report stresses that continued progress must be supported by digital financial literacy initiatives to ensure safe, inclusive, and sustainable adoption across regions and demographics.
