Africa’s Gaming Market: 2025 Market Analysis

The African gaming market experienced significant expansion in 2024, reaching a total valuation of $1.8 billion. This figure represents a 12.4% year-over-year increase, a growth rate six times faster than the global average of 2.1%. The market is characterized by a rapidly growing player base, which expanded by 32 million individuals in 2024 to reach a total of 349 million gamers across the continent.

Mobile gaming serves as the primary engine for this growth, accounting for nearly 90% of the total market value at $1.6 billion. Of the 349 million total gamers, 304 million participate via mobile devices, highlighting a clear trend of consumers leapfrogging traditional gaming platforms in favor of mobile accessibility. This shift is supported by increasing internet penetration and the development of innovative local payment solutions.

Geographically, the analysis covers the entire African continent, marking a shift from previous, more limited studies focused solely on sub-Saharan Africa. Among individual nations, Egypt leads the market with $368 million in revenue, followed by Nigeria at $300 million and South Africa at $278 million. While growth is widespread, the pace varies by country, with Eritrea and Niger identified as the fastest-growing markets, while Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles recorded the slowest growth. The findings, compiled through collaborative research by Carry1st and Newzoo, underscore Africa's transition from an emerging market to a significant, high-growth participant in the global gaming industry.