Africa and Middle East Games Market to Grow to $8.5 Billion in 2026
August 25, 2026
Based on reporting from PocketGamer.biz → — simplified & explained by VAIIYA.
The numbers
According to a report by Carry1st and market research firm Newzoo, the games industry in Africa and the Middle East is expected to generate $8.53 billion in revenue in 2026, up 10.3% from last year. The number of gamers in Africa alone is expected to cross the 406 million mark.
Africa's games revenue grew 11.9% to $1.98 billion — well ahead of the global market, which grew 6.1% on average. Mobile gaming is by far dominant on the continent, with a share of about 81.8% ($1.62 billion). The Middle East is expected to contribute $6.55 billion, of which 64.3% comes via mobile games.
Explosive growth in player numbers
The number of gamers in Africa grew from 186 million in 2021 to 406.25 million in 2026 — a 118% increase over five years. In 2026 alone, an estimated 36.6 million new players joined. Together, the Africa and Middle East region has more than 640 million gamers, roughly 17.3% of all gamers worldwide.
Leading countries
Egypt is the largest African market at $458.1 million, followed by South Africa ($263 million) and Nigeria ($226.6 million). In the Middle East, Turkey tops the list with $1.65 billion, closely followed by Saudi Arabia with $1.59 billion.
Why it matters
Carry1st's CEO calls Africa and the Middle East "the most important growth engines" of the games industry, stressing that the continent is becoming an essential part of the sector's global growth.