Grace Ashiru
According to data from Carry1st, an African gaming and digital content publisher, and Newzoo, a research platform for PC and console gamers, Africa’s gaming sector has seen impressive growth, reaching $1.8 billion in revenue in 2024.
The analysis reveals that the continent’s gaming industry grew by 12.4% from 2023 to 2024, improving its global ranking. Notably, the region’s year-over-year (YOY) growth rate was 2.1%, which is six times higher than the global average.
Mobile gaming emerged as the dominant force in Africa, capturing 90% of the market share—equivalent to $1.6 billion—in 2024. Out of the total 349 million games, 304 million were mobile, with participation growing by 32 million from the previous year.
Mobile games also represented the majority of the overall player base, accounting for 87%, marking a 10% increase in YOY participation from 2023. This contributed to 14% YOY growth in the overall gaming market, which reached $1.8 billion in 2024.
The rapid expansion of mobile penetration, Internet access, and innovative payment solutions in Africa has played a crucial role in the growth of the gaming industry. With smartphones being more affordable and user-friendly, mobile gaming has emerged as a popular and cost-effective alternative to high-end consoles and computers.
In 2024, Carry1st, a leading force in mobile gaming and digital content across Africa, hosted the Carry1st Africa Cup, a Call of Duty: Mobile tournament, further fueling the continent’s gaming sector.
Among the countries driving the continent’s gaming landscape, Egypt emerged as the top contributor in 2024. The gaming industry in Egypt is often underestimated, but it was valued at over $368 million, accounting for 20.4% of Africa’s total gaming revenue.
Other African countries, including Nigeria and South Africa, closely followed, generating $300 million and $278 million in gaming revenue, respectively, during the year.
In terms of growth, Eritrea and Niger saw the highest increase in gaming revenue, signaling a significant boost in the industry. On the other hand, Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles experienced slower growth, trailing behind other countries in the region.
Per Intelpoint, Nigeria spent over $229 million on gaming in Africa in 2023, with Egypt following closely at $212 million. Nigeria had around 14.7 million gamers, while Egypt had 20.2 million.
Africa holds vast untapped potential in gaming and eSports, fueled by its rapidly growing population, especially among the youth, who are becoming more engaged in competitive gaming.
Gaming content creation has become a dominant force within the African gaming scene. In 2024, six Nigerians participated in the Call of Duty Mobile tournament in Ireland, alongside other African gaming experts. These pro gamers combine their gaming skills with content creation, earning over $10,000 in a single tournament.
Games like CODM have gained immense popularity in Africa, offering much more than just entertainment. With a strong tradition of celebrating sports icons, Africa provides an ideal environment for eSports players to rise to prominence rapidly and secure lucrative sponsorship deals
