UnionPay extends its lead 29 October 2018 4:42PM Banking Day staff Payments, mobile & wallets, China UnionPay, China UnionPay has 44 per cent of the world's payment cards market, and once more lifted its market share last year.The number of payment cards in circulation worldwide reached 15 billion at the end of 2017, research firm RBR said on Friday, putting growth over the year at six per cent.At the centre of the financial inclusion priority driving the global cards market, UnionPay lifted in market share by one percentage point over the year.Visa and Mastercard account for 21 per cent and 16 per cent of global cards respectively.?RBR said if China is excluded, Visa's share is 36 per cent and Mastercard's 27 per cent.