Jumia, one of Africa’s largest e-commerce platforms, has reduced its workforce by 7 percent between December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2025, even as it posted strong year-on-year revenue growth. The company reported $45.6 million in Q3 2025 revenue, up from $36.4 million in the same period last year. This 25 percent rise was driven by higher customer demand and increased order volume across its key markets.
Orders grew by 34 percent, with Nigeria leading the charge. The Nigerian market alone recorded a 30 percent rise in orders and a 43 percent increase in Gross Merchandise Value, reaffirming the country as Jumia’s most active market.
Despite improved revenue, the company still posted an operating loss of $17.4 million. However, this reflects a 13 percent reduction from the $20.1 million loss reported in Q3 2024. The company continues to emphasize its long-term objective of achieving profitability by 2027. According to the chief executive officer, the business has reached an important turning point, helped by tighter cost controls, improved execution, and stronger customer engagement. The leadership believes the company is on track to break even on a loss-before-tax basis by Q4 2026 and deliver full-year profitability the following year.
Jumia is investing more in customer acquisition and engagement, with sales and advertising expenses rising by 18 percent to $5.2 million. At the same time, the company has reduced general and administrative expenses by 7 percent to $17.6 million. Lower tax expenses supported this decline, though the company still recorded higher staff-related costs and professional fees due in part to currency effects.
While operating expenses are being streamlined, the company’s workforce has shrunk to 2,010 employees. The reduction reflects Jumia’s increased reliance on artificial intelligence to improve productivity and cut overheads. AI-powered processes now support customer service, marketing, and technology operations. These tools are helping Jumia automate routine tasks, become more efficient, and scale with fewer resources.
As businesses worldwide integrate AI to lower operating costs, Jumia’s model aligns with a broader global trend. The company expects continued reductions in administrative expenses to play a central role in its push toward profitability, marking a new phase in its strategy to build a leaner and more scalable eCommerce operation across Africa.
