As of February 2025, Nigeria had 107 million internet users - the highest number reported all over Africa. Meanwhile, Egypt ranked second with over 96 million users. The majority of web traffic in leading digital markets in Africa originated from mobile devices - in Nigeria, one of the countries with the largest number of internet users worldwide, 86.2 percent of web traffic was generated via smartphones and roughly 13.3 percent via PC devices. This is due in part to the fact that mobile connections are much cheaper and do not require the infrastructure that is needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections. Anticipating remarkable growth: Africa's internet user surge and projected milestones The projected trend for Africa indicates a consistent rise in internet users from 2024 to 2029. It will have a collective addition of 337.3 million users (equivalent to a growth of 51.79 percent). Following fifteen successive years of growth, the user count is anticipated to reach a record high of 1.1 billion by 2029. Furthermore, the online penetration rate on the continent was 43 percent – which was below the global average, measured at around 68 percent. Unveiling internet trends The region has witnessed a steady increase in internet users over the years. In January 2024, Southern Africa stood out as the African region with the most substantial internet penetration rate, reaching approximately 73.1 percent. The proportion of individuals accessing the internet in this part of Africa and Northern Africa surpassed the global average (66.2 percent). Moreover, Morocco boasted an impressive internet penetration of about 91 percent, securing its position as Africa's foremost country. Libya held the second position with a penetration rate of approximately 88 percent, followed closely by Seychelles at around 86.7 percent.

As of February 2025, Morocco had an internet penetration of over 92 percent, making it the country with the highest internet penetration in Africa. Libya ranked second, with 88.5 percent, followed by Seychelles with over 87 percent. On the other hand, The Central African Republic, Chad, and Burundi had the lowest prevalence of internet among their population. Varying but growing levels of internet adoption Although internet usage varies significantly across African countries, the overall number of internet users on the continent jumped to around 646 million from close to 181 million in 2014. Of those, almost a third lived in Nigeria and Egypt only, two of the three most populous countries on the continent. Furthermore, internet users are expected to surge, reaching over 1.1 billion users by 2029. Mobile devices dominate web traffic Most internet adoptions on the continent occurred recently. This is among the reasons mobile phones increasingly play a significant role in connecting African populations. As of early January 2024, around 74 percent of the web traffic in Africa was via mobile phones, over 14 percentage points higher than the world average. Furthermore, almost all African countries have a higher web usage on mobile devices compared to other devices, with rates as high as 92 percent in Sudan. This is partly due to mobile connections being cheaper and not requiring the infrastructure needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections.

As of February 2025, Southern Africa was the region with the highest internet penetration rate in Africa, at around ** percent. Furthermore, Northern Africa had a penetration rate of ** percent. The share of people using the internet in these regions of Africa was even above the world average (**** percent). In contrast, Middle and Eastern Africa recorded the lowest rates: **** percent and **** percent, respectively.

In 2025, nearly ** percent of South Africa's population were internet users. Ten years prior, only around ** percent of the population had access to the internet.Compared to other African countries, Morocco had the highest internet penetration rate in 2025.

Internet Usage: Device Vendor Market Share: Tablet: White Label data was reported at 0.000 % in 22 Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 21 Mar 2025. Internet Usage: Device Vendor Market Share: Tablet: White Label data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Mar 2025 (Median) to 22 Mar 2025, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.050 % in 19 Mar 2025 and a record low of 0.000 % in 22 Mar 2025. Internet Usage: Device Vendor Market Share: Tablet: White Label data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statcounter Global Stats. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Device Vendor Market Share.

South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: t-online data was reported at 0.000 % in 04 Jan 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 03 Jan 2025. South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: t-online data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 2024 (Median) to 04 Jan 2025, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.060 % in 31 Dec 2024 and a record low of 0.000 % in 04 Jan 2025. South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: t-online data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statcounter Global Stats. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share.

South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: Qwant data was reported at 0.000 % in 08 May 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 07 May 2025. South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: Qwant data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Aug 2024 (Median) to 08 May 2025, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.100 % in 16 Oct 2024 and a record low of 0.000 % in 08 May 2025. South Africa Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share: Tablet: Qwant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statcounter Global Stats. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share.

As of February 2025, 5.56 billion individuals worldwide were internet users, which amounted to 67.9 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.24 billion, or 63.9 percent of the world's population, were social media users. Global internet usage Connecting billions of people worldwide, the internet is a core pillar of the modern information society. Northern Europe ranked first among worldwide regions by the share of the population using the internet in 20254. In The Netherlands, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 99 percent of the population used the internet as of February 2025. North Korea was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with virtually no internet usage penetration among the general population, ranking last worldwide. Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of online users worldwide – over 1.34 billion at the latest count. Southern Asia ranked second, with around 1.2 billion internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide by the number of internet users. Worldwide internet user demographics As of 2024, the share of female internet users worldwide was 65 percent, five percent less than that of men. Gender disparity in internet usage was bigger in African countries, with around a ten percent difference. Worldwide regions, like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe, showed a smaller usage gap between these two genders. As of 2024, global internet usage was higher among individuals between 15 and 24 years old across all regions, with young people in Europe representing the most significant usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group 15–24 years was 79 percent. The income level of the countries was also an essential factor for internet access, as 93 percent of the population of the countries with high income reportedly used the internet, as opposed to only 27 percent of the low-income markets.

Internet Usage: Browser Market Share: Desktop: Whale Browser data was reported at 0.000 % in 24 Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 23 Mar 2025. Internet Usage: Browser Market Share: Desktop: Whale Browser data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Sep 2024 (Median) to 24 Mar 2025, with 54 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.120 % in 28 Sep 2024 and a record low of 0.000 % in 24 Mar 2025. Internet Usage: Browser Market Share: Desktop: Whale Browser data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statcounter Global Stats. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Browser Market Share.

The number of smartphone users in Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 353.1 million users (+109.45 percent). After the eighteenth consecutive increasing year, the smartphone user base is estimated to reach 675.71 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of smartphone users in countries like Caribbean and Europe.

The South African ICT market, valued at $36.81 million in 2025, exhibits robust growth potential, projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.90% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by increasing digital adoption across various sectors, fueled by government initiatives promoting digital transformation and a burgeoning mobile phone and internet penetration rate. Key growth drivers include the rising demand for cloud computing services, big data analytics, cybersecurity solutions, and the expanding adoption of 5G technology. Furthermore, the increasing need for efficient and reliable communication infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, presents significant opportunities for ICT companies. The market is segmented by type (hardware, software, IT services, telecommunication services), enterprise size (SMEs and large enterprises), and industry vertical (BFSI, IT & Telecom, Government, Retail & E-commerce, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and Others). The strong presence of both multinational corporations like IBM, Microsoft, and Intel, and local players such as Vodacom and MTN, reflects the market's maturity and competitive landscape. The South African ICT market faces challenges, primarily related to infrastructure limitations, particularly in rural areas, which hinder broadband access and digital inclusion. Regulatory hurdles and cybersecurity concerns also pose potential restraints on market growth. Despite these challenges, the overall market outlook remains positive, driven by significant government investments in digital infrastructure, a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a young, tech-savvy population. The expanding adoption of mobile money services and the increasing use of ICT in education and healthcare further support the market's growth trajectory. The market's segmentation offers opportunities for specialized players to target niche markets, leveraging the unique needs of specific industry verticals and enterprise sizes. Future growth will depend on addressing infrastructure limitations, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and promoting digital literacy to unlock the full potential of the South African ICT market. Recent developments include: July 2024: Huawei Africa Connect 2024, themed "Accelerate Industrial Intelligence," took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the event, Huawei showcased its Xinghe Intelligent Network Solution, tailored for Southern Africa, which aims to propel industries toward Net5.5G and expedite their intelligent evolution. As global momentum surges toward intelligent transformation, Southern African nations are actively charting their paths toward digital and intelligent metamorphosis. In this swiftly approaching era of intelligence, networks stand out as pivotal ICT infrastructure. As the industry collectively steers toward this intelligent era, there is a growing consensus that forthcoming data communication networks in the country would be defined by Net5.5G., As of August 2024, Codehesion stands out as an award-winning software development firm, delivering top-tier solutions to South Africa's leading enterprises. The company's expertise spans custom software development, mobile app creation, design, maintenance, project management, team augmentation, and training.. Key drivers for this market are: Rapid Digital Transformation in the Financial Services Industry, Robust Rollout of 5G. Potential restraints include: Rapid Digital Transformation in the Financial Services Industry, Robust Rollout of 5G. Notable trends are: Robust 5G Deployment in the Country.

（停止更新）互联网使用：设备供应商市场份额：平板电脑：白标在03-22-2025达0.000%，相较于03-21-2025的0.000%保持不变。（停止更新）互联网使用：设备供应商市场份额：平板电脑：白标数据按日更新，03-15-2025至03-22-2025期间平均值为0.000%，共8份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于03-19-2025，达0.050%，而历史最低值则出现于03-22-2025，为0.000%。CEIC提供的（停止更新）互联网使用：设备供应商市场份额：平板电脑：白标数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于Statcounter Global Stats，数据归类于全球数据库的南非 – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Device Vendor Market Share。

（停止更新）互联网使用：搜索引擎市场份额：平板电脑：T-Online在01-04-2025达0.000%，相较于01-03-2025的0.000%保持不变。（停止更新）互联网使用：搜索引擎市场份额：平板电脑：T-Online数据按日更新，12-25-2024至01-04-2025期间平均值为0.000%，共11份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-31-2024，达0.060%，而历史最低值则出现于01-04-2025，为0.000%。CEIC提供的（停止更新）互联网使用：搜索引擎市场份额：平板电脑：T-Online数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于Statcounter Global Stats，数据归类于全球数据库的南非 – Table ZA.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Search Engine Market Share。

As of February 2025, India was the country with the largest offline population worldwide. The South Asian country had over 651 million people without internet connection. China ranked second, with around 311.9 million people not connected to the internet. Despite these large shares of the disconnected population in these countries, China and India ranked first and second, respectively, as countries with the highest number of internet users worldwide. Internet access in Africa In 2023, Africa lagged behind other global regions regarding internet penetration rate, as only 37 percent of the continent’s population accessed the web. In contrast, around 91 percent of Europe’s population were internet users. This is heavily influenced by the infrastructure development in the region. However, some improvements are forecasted, as by 2028, the internet penetration rate in Africa will be at an estimated 48.15 percent. Global internet access challenges: disruptions and restrictions Government internet shutdowns around the world are another challenge for internet access. Between 2015 and the first half of 2023, 172 local internet connection disruptions occurred due to protests globally. Moreover, according to a 2023report on internet freedom, almost four out of ten global internet users were deprived of essential freedoms on online platforms. In 2023, 76 new restrictions on internet usage were implemented worldwide. Asia led in imposing these restrictions, accounting for approximately 55 cases across various countries in the region.

The online banking penetration rate in Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 5.2 percentage points. After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the online banking penetration is estimated to reach 13.25 percent and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the online banking penetration rate of was continuously increasing over the past years.Shown is the estimated percentage of the total population in a given region or country, which makes use of online banking.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the online banking penetration rate in countries like North America and Europe.

The number of Youtube users in Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.03 million users (+3.95 percent). The Youtube user base is estimated to amount to 0.79 million users in 2029. User figures, shown here regarding the platform youtube, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of Youtube users in countries like Worldwide and the Americas.

The number of WhatsApp users in Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 43.8 million users (+47.79 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the WhatsApp user base is estimated to reach 135.44 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of WhatsApp users of was continuously increasing over the past years.User figures, shown here regarding the platform whatsapp, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of WhatsApp users in countries like Asia and the Americas.