Cyber attacks in Africa grow faster than global rate, report finds

In 2025, nearly 70,000 cyber incidents were recorded across Africa, marking a staggering 421.4% increase in cyber attacks since 2016. This growth rate far exceeds the global average of 307.3% over the same period. To put this into perspective, if there had been 100 cyber incidents in Africa in 2016, the equivalent figure would have risen to 521 by 2025, nearly five times the 2016 level.

Globally, the equivalent figure would have increased to approximately 407. The report, titled the Africa Cybersecurity Whitepaper, analyzed data from Mastercard Cyber Insights, industry research, law-enforcement intelligence, and interviews with cybersecurity experts. It focused on South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya, which accounted for 54.7% of the observed cyber incidents in 2025.

The sectors most targeted were financial services, technology, and public institutions. Cybercriminals increasingly target technology companies, public-sector institutions, and financial services, as these support essential digital services like financial transactions, business operations, and government services. The report identified organised cybercriminal groups as responsible for more than 60% of attributed cyber incidents.

As Africa's digital economy expands, with a projected digital payments market reaching $1.5 trillion by 2030 and an AI economy valued at $16.5 billion, the need for robust cybersecurity becomes increasingly critical. However, the report highlights challenges such as a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, with Africa facing a 23% workforce gap.

This shortage raises concerns about organisations' ability to secure critical infrastructure, protect sensitive information, and respond effectively to cyber incidents.