The most cashless countries in Africa

54 countries and territories in Africa, ranked by how easily a visitor can get by without cash in The Cashlessy Index 2026. South Africa leads with 80 out of 100; Sudan is the most cash-reliant. 3 of 54 are cashless or mostly cashless, and the region averages 22.

What the checked guides say

We have checked 8 of the 54 guides in Africa against sources so far. Expect a fee at every ATM in South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Algeria. In South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania, there is a payment app a visitor can set up without a local bank account.

All 54 ranked

  1. 1
    South Africa

    Cards: accepted almost everywhereCash: carry a littleATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless80
  2. 2
    Mauritius

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mostly cashless68
  3. 3
    Seychelles

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mostly cashless66
  4. 4
    Namibia

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mixed64
  5. 5
    Botswana

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mixed60
  6. 6
    Kenya

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: carry a littleATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed58
  7. 7
    Rwanda

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Mixed50
  8. 8
    Cabo Verde

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Mixed48
  9. 8
    Eswatini

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Mixed48
  10. 10
    Egypt

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred42
  11. 11
    Nigeria

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred38
  12. 12
    Ghana

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred36
  13. 12
    Morocco

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred36
  14. 12
    Tanzania

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred36
  15. 15
    Tunisia

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred34
  16. 16
    Zambia

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred32
  17. 17
    Senegal

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred28
  18. 18
    Cote d'Ivoire

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred26
  19. 19
    Lesotho

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential24
  20. 19
    Uganda

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential24
  21. 19
    Zimbabwe

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash essential24
  22. 22
    Gambia

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential20
  23. 22
    Mozambique

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential20
  24. 24
    Djibouti

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential18
  25. 25
    Angola

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential16
  26. 25
    Ethiopia

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential16
  27. 27
    Gabon

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential14
  28. 27
    Madagascar

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential14
  29. 27
    Malawi

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential14
  30. 30
    Benin

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential12
  31. 30
    Cameroon

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential12
  32. 32
    Togo

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential10
  33. 33
    Algeria

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash essential8
  34. 33
    Burkina Faso

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential8
  35. 33
    Congo

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential8
  36. 33
    Liberia

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential8
  37. 37
    Comoros

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential6
  38. 37
    DR Congo

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential6
  39. 37
    Equatorial Guinea

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential6
  40. 40
    Guinea

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential5
  41. 40
    Mali

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential5
  42. 40
    Mauritania

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential5
  43. 40
    Sierra Leone

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential5
  44. 44
    Burundi

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential4
  45. 44
    Sao Tome and Principe

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential4
  46. 44
    Somalia

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential4
  47. 47
    Chad

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential3
  48. 47
    Guinea-Bissau

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential3
  49. 47
    Libya

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential3
  50. 47
    Niger

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential3
  51. 51
    Central African Republic

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential2
  52. 51
    Eritrea

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential2
  53. 51
    South Sudan

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential2
  54. 51
    Sudan

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential2

Scores are out of 100. See the full world ranking and how we score. Last reviewed October 2026.

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