The mobile payment sector in Tunisia continues to experience significant growth, with 5 million transactions recorded in the first half of 2026, amounting to 914.2 million dinars. This represents a 31.5% increase in the number of transactions and a 17.7% increase in value compared to the same period in 2025. According to the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), this growth is a notable trend in the country's financial landscape.
The number of mobile wallets, also known as mobile payment portfolios, reached 512,000 units as of June 2026. The BCT's bulletin on payments, issue 17, provides insights into the country's payment systems. In the first quarter of 2026, the BCT recorded 2.7 million mobile transactions, valued at 487.6 million dinars. This upward trend suggests that mobile payments could reach around 10 million transactions in 2026.
Based on the current pace of growth, mobile payments in Tunisia are expected to total approximately 10 million transactions in 2026, valued at around 1.83 billion dinars. However, this estimate is not an official forecast by the BCT, and the actual figure may vary depending on consumer behavior and seasonal fluctuations. In 2025, a total of 8.4 million mobile transactions were recorded, valued at 1.769 billion dinars.
Despite the growth in mobile payments, the use of specialized payment accounts remains low. According to the BCT's annual report on banking supervision in 2025, nearly nine out of ten specialized accounts were inactive as of December 2025. Out of 113,739 payment accounts, only 12,843 were active, representing 11.3% of the total. This marks a significant decline from 2024, when 30.2% of accounts were active.
The BCT's report highlights the challenges faced by specialized payment institutions. The number of active accounts decreased by 46% over the past year, despite an increase in new account openings. It is essential to distinguish between these specialized accounts and mobile wallets, as they measure different aspects of financial activity. The two indicators do not track the same activity.
The growth in mobile payments is notable, but it does not necessarily mean that all users have adopted digital financial services in their daily transactions. The increasing number of transactions may not translate to widespread adoption of digital payments. The BCT's data provides valuable insights into the country's financial landscape and the evolving trends in payment systems.
The situation of specialized payment institutions highlights the need for further development in the sector. The decline in active accounts and the low adoption rate of digital financial services indicate that there is still room for growth and improvement. As the mobile payment sector continues to expand, it will be essential to monitor the trends and developments in the industry to understand the implications for the country's financial landscape.
Key points
- Mobile payments in Tunisia are expected to reach 10 million transactions in 2026.
- The number of mobile wallets in Tunisia reached 512,000 units as of June 2026.
- Specialized payment accounts in Tunisia remain largely inactive, with nearly 9 out of 10 accounts inactive as of December 2025.
