Top 10 African Countries With the Most Internet Users
The global internet is growing exponentially. Our daily activities, business interactions, and government-to-citizen interactions are rapidly going digital. The internet should no longer come with a price tag in a world of AI and virtual exchange. Every government should provide all its citizens with free internet access and make it accessible everywhere. It should be a right. Nothing has brought the world closer than the internet. In an ever-interconnected world, we could all suffer with one glitch, like the one at Microsoft a few days ago.
Despite its numerous challenges, Africa is also experiencing greater internet reach. On average, Upper-Saharan Africa has the most access, but sub-Saharan Africa is still going strong. The more urban the place, the higher the number of users, which is why cities like Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra, and Dar es Salaam have some of the highest user ratios. The increase in internet users can be attributed to improved digital literacy and the expansion of mobile networks in Africa.
Given Nigeria’s population, it tops the continent with 103 million users. However, when dividing this number by its population to calculate the percentage, Nigeria falls to the 5th position, accounting for just 45%. Morocco has 34 million users, but with a population of 38 million, only 4 million Moroccans are not connected to the internet; that is a percentage of 89%.
On average, Morocco has the highest number of internet users on the continent.
Second-place South Africa has 45 million internet users and a population of 61 million, leaving just 16 million who are not connected; that is a percentage of 74%. Egypt’s 114 million people vs 82 million internet users and Algeria’s 46 million people vs 33 million internet users give both countries 72% each. Ghana secured 5th place with 34 million people, compared to 24 million internet users, or 71%.
The remaining five countries in the top ten, including Nigeria, were under 50%, with Ethiopia securing the bottom place with just 19%.
By Ikechukwu ORJI
