South Africa and Nigeria have lost the most ATMs since their peaks

Key Takeaways

  • South Africa had 5,230 fewer ATMs in 2025 than at its 2016 peak.
  • Nigeria had 2,055 fewer ATMs than at its 2019 peak.
  • ATM counts in 18 African countries were below their recorded peaks in 2025.
  • The other 23 countries with 2025 data recorded their highest ATM counts that year.
  • Of 49 countries with comparable data, 40 had more ATMs in their latest reported year than in 2017.

South Africa has 5,230 fewer ATMs than at its 2016 peak. Nigeria has 2,055 fewer than in 2019.

They top the 18 African countries with fewer ATMs in 2025 than at their recorded peak, ranked here by machines lost. The other 23 of the 41 countries with 2025 data recorded their highest ATM count in the series that year.

Seven of the top 10 countries peaked between 2016 and 2020, while Tanzania and Namibia peaked in 2024.

40 of the 49 African countries with a 2017 value and a later reported value had more ATMs in their latest reported year than in 2017.

Peak = highest value in each country’s available series since 2004; some series start later.

Source:

IMF Financial Access Survey

Period:

2025
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