DirecPay Payment Gateway: What are the countries worldwide that support mobile payments?

Mobile payment, with the help of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, enables instantaneous fund transfers and settlements through the Internet and mobile communication networks, greatly facilitating payment behaviour. In recent years, the rapid global popularity of mobile payment has benefited from the widespread penetration of smartphones, improvements in Internet infrastructure and continued innovation in payment technology. From China and India in Asia, to Kenya in Africa, to developed countries in Europe and the United States, mobile payment is gradually penetrating every corner and becoming a key bridge connecting consumers and merchants.

### Mobile payment-enabled countries worldwide

The number of mobile payment users globally is expected to reach between 4 billion and 4.5 billion by 2024, according to various sources, demonstrating the widespread adoption of mobile payments. Asia leads the way with the largest number of users, with more than 100 million mobile payment users in China and a penetration rate of more than 98%.

##### USA and Europe

The U.S. mobile payments market is also experiencing rapid growth and is expected to have approximately 240 million mobile payments users by 2024, representing more than 75% of the total population.

#### Asian countries

1. **China**

- **Market conditions**: China is the global leader in the mobile payments market, dominated by large platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay.

- **Penetration level**: Mobile payment in China covers almost all online and offline consumption scenarios, with an extremely high penetration rate, making it almost an indispensable part of daily life.

- **Technological innovations**: China's mobile payment industry continues to innovate, introducing technologies such as face recognition and seamless payments to enhance the user experience. Convergence with fintech, big data and artificial intelligence has also driven innovation and development in financial services.

2. **Japan and Korea**

- **Digital wallets**: Digital wallet services in Japan and Korea are widely used in industries such as transport and retail, such as Suica and PASMO in Japan, and KaKao Pay and Samsung Pay in Korea.

- **Technological features**: Mobile payment technology in these countries is mature, secure and user-friendly. Governments and enterprises actively promote mobile payments and provide more innovative solutions to the market.

3. **India and South-East Asia**

- **Market growth**: The mobile payments market in India and Southeast Asia is growing rapidly, especially with the proliferation of smartphones and improved internet infrastructure.

- **Major apps**: Indian local apps such as Paytm and Mobikwik, as well as Chinese platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, are popular in South-East Asia. These apps not only support everyday transactions, but are also expanding into financial services and e-commerce.

#### European countries

- **Market characteristics**: The mobile payment market in European countries is relatively mature, but there are differences in growth rates and penetration rates. Some Nordic countries, such as Sweden, are almost cashless societies with extremely high mobile payment penetration rates, while others are gradually rolling out mobile payment services.

- **Major services**: NFC payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are popular in Europe. Banks are also actively launching their own mobile payment services to meet user demand.

#### North American countries

- **Market Overview**: The mobile payments market in North America consists mainly of the United States and Canada. The U.S. market is growing rapidly, with NFC payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay being popular among younger and higher-end users; Canada's mobile payment market is also showing steady growth.

- **Technological security**: The mobile payments industry in North America emphasises technological security and innovation, using advanced encryption and biometrics to ensure secure transactions. Integration with areas such as fintech and e-commerce has also opened up more opportunities for the market to grow.

#### Other continental countries

- **Africa**: The mobile payments market in Africa is characterised by unique developments. For example, Kenya's M-Pesa has had a pioneering impact on the continent, fuelling the rapid development of the mobile payments market. These services not only provide local residents with convenient financial services, but also facilitate the digital transformation of local economies.

- **Oceania and South America**: The mobile payment markets in Oceania and South America are also gradually expanding. Australia and New Zealand have mature mobile payment markets, while countries such as Brazil and Argentina are experiencing rapid growth in the number of mobile payment users as the popularity of smartphones and the demand for convenient payment methods grows. The mobile payments industry in these countries is also innovating and evolving to meet market demand.

### Application and development of mobile payment in various countries

##### Application scenarios of mobile payment in different countries

Mobile payments have been widely and diversely applied globally, covering a wide range of areas such as retail, catering, transport and public services.

1. **Retail**: In China, mobile payments are extremely common in the retail sector, with Alipay and WeChat payments supported in almost all offline shops, supermarkets and convenience stores. In Japan and South Korea, while cash payments still account for a certain percentage, the use of mobile payments in the retail sector is also increasing rapidly, especially among young people and urban residents. Mobile payments are also widely used in India and Southeast Asian countries, providing a convenient shopping experience for local consumers.

2. **Catering**: Mobile payment is widely used in the catering industry. Customers can scan the QR code on their mobile phones to complete payment, eliminating the need to wait for change and improving dining efficiency.

3. **Transportation**: In many countries and regions, mobile payments have penetrated the transport sector. For example, China's metro and bus systems widely support mobile payments for ticketing and travelling; e-wallets are commonly used for public transport payments in Japan and South Korea. In some European countries, mobile payments are starting to be used in taxis and some public transport, although traditional transport cards are still popular.

4. **Public services**: The application of mobile payment in the field of public services is also increasing, such as payment for water, electricity and gas, hospital registration fees and government service fees. These application scenarios not only improve the efficiency of public services, but also facilitate the lives of residents.

#### Technological innovation for future development

1. **5G technology**: The popularity of 5G technology will significantly improve the speed and stability of mobile payments, making real-time payments and large-scale transaction processing possible, which will further promote the application of mobile payments in more scenarios.

2. **AI technology**: the application of AI technology will enhance the risk control capability of mobile payment, identifying fraudulent behaviours through big data analysis and machine learning algorithms to ensure transaction security.AI can also provide users with more personalized payment experiences and services, such as intelligent payment method recommendations and optimized payment paths.

3. **Blockchain technology**: The introduction of blockchain technology will enhance the security and transparency of mobile payments, reducing payment risks and the possibility of data tampering through decentralised data storage and smart contract mechanisms. In addition, blockchain technology can simplify the cross-border payment process and reduce the cost and time of cross-border transactions.

##### Future Growth Trends in the Mobile Payments Market by Country

1. **China**: China's mobile payment market is expected to continue to grow rapidly. With continued technological innovation and the expansion of application scenarios, mobile payments will penetrate more areas and people. At the same time, the Chinese government will continue to promote the standardisation and healthy development of the mobile payment market and strengthen regulatory and risk prevention measures.

2. **Japan and South Korea**: Although the mobile payment markets in Japan and South Korea started early, they have developed relatively slowly. However, with the spread of technology and changes in consumer habits, the mobile payment market in these two countries is expected to experience rapid growth in the coming years. In particular, the mobile payment market will experience explosive growth as the younger generation becomes the main consumer and governments increase their support for the digital economy.

3. **India and South-East Asia**: The mobile payments market in India and South-East Asia has tremendous growth potential. With the popularity of smartphones and improved Internet infrastructure, as well as local governments' focus on and support for the digital economy, the number of mobile payment users will increase significantly. At the same time, with the rapid development of local e-commerce and retail markets, as well as increasing consumer demand for convenient payment methods, the mobile payment application scenarios in these countries will continue to expand and deepen.

4. **Europe and North America**: The mobile payment markets in Europe and North America are relatively mature, but still have some room for growth. With the application of new technologies and changes in consumer habits, as well as the in-depth cooperation between mobile payment platforms and financial institutions, the mobile payment market in these regions will maintain a stable growth trend. Especially in the areas of cross-border payment and financial technology, mobile payment will play a more important role in promoting global economic integration and digital transformation.