Africa's Mobile App Market Surpassed 270 Million Monthly Active Users in 2022

Africa's mobile app market experienced significant growth in 2022, with the total number of monthly active users surpassing 270 million, a 14% increase compared to the previous year, according to a recent report by DataSparkle, a data and analytics platform for emerging markets.

The study revealed that mobile games, tools, and pan-entertainment apps dominated the market, accounting for more than 56% of the top 500 apps in Africa. Mobile gaming witnessed remarkable growth, with over 200 million monthly active users spending an average of more than 12 hours per month on gaming apps. Casual, puzzle, and arcade games emerged as favourites among African users.

In addition, pan-entertainment apps gained significant popularity, with users spending up to 32 hours per month on social apps, particularly drawn to short-form videos for online social networking. This shift reflects the changing dynamics of social interaction in the digital age.

Fintech and e-commerce sectors also experienced strong momentum, with finance apps recording over 73 million active users, marking a 26% increase within the year. Shopping apps saw a 6% rise, with more than 36 million active users.

These sectors have become increasingly popular among African consumers, providing convenient solutions for financial management and online shopping.

Overall, Africa's mobile app market showcases robust growth, driven by increasing user engagement, expanding app categories, and the rising popularity of fintech, e-commerce, and social entertainment.