- Business Insider Africa presents 5 African countries with the highest number of people not connected to the internet.
- The list is courtesy of Statista.
- Nigeria has the highest number of people not connected to the internet in Africa, with 123.42 million.
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5 African countries with the highest number of people not connected to the internet
The internet and its accessibility are important in this present age. Whether it's for school, staying connected with friends, or watching movies, the internet has become something we can't do without around the world, including in Africa.
5 African countries with the highest number of people not connected to the internet
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As of 2022, Africa's internet penetration rate trailed behind other global regions, with only 40 per cent of the continent's population accessing the web. In comparison, about 89 per cent of Europe's population were internet users.
According to Statista, this discrepancy is largely influenced by factors including infrastructure development.
Government-imposed internet shutdowns are another challenge for internet access. Between 2015 and the first half of 2023, there were 172 instances of local internet connection disruptions due to protests globally.
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Nearly four out of ten global internet users faced restrictions on essential freedoms while using online platforms, according to a 2022 report on internet freedom.
In Africa, the growing concern of internet shutdowns has taken centre stage. In Sub-Saharan Africa for instance, major internet shutdowns were primarily attributed to military coups and protests within the region, according to Top10VPN.
This resulted in a huge cost for the region, which witnessed a financial setback of $1.74 billion during 30,785 hours of internet downtime, affecting 84.8 million people in 2023, according to Top10VPN.
However, projections suggest some improvements, with the internet penetration rate in Africa expected to reach around 48.15 per cent by 2028.
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According to Statista, Nigeria has the highest number of people not connected to the internet in Africa, with 123.42 million.
Below are 5 African countries with the highest number of people not connected to the internet:
| Rank | Country | Number Of People Still Offline (In Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 123.42 |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 103.29 |
| 3 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 75.61 |
| 4 | Tanzania | 46.6 |
| 5 | Uganda | 35.94 |
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