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Insights Centre
Indicators · Digital and financial inclusion

Internet users

Share of people who used the internet in the last three months, from any device.

Why it matters

The addressable market for e-commerce, digital payments, online services and digital advertising.

Read with care

Based on ITU estimates where surveys are missing.

Source

World Bank

% of population. 54 African countries, 1990 to 2024.

Internet use: highest in Seychelles, lowest in Zambia

Internet users, % of population. Latest year available, 2024. 16 of 16 countries have data.

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Source: World Bank· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Ranked: internet useiWhy it mattersThe addressable market for e-commerce, digital payments, online services and digital advertising.

Click a country to highlight it.

0%20%40%60%80%Seychelles87.8%South Africa78.4%Mauritius73.3%Namibia64.9%Eswatini63.4%Botswana57.5%Lesotho51.8%Zimbabwe41.6%Angola40.7%Comoros32.5%Tanzania31.2%Mozambique20.5%DRC19.7%Malawi19.0%Madagascar18.7%Zambia17.1%median 41.2%
dotzedw Insights Centre
How spread out SADC is
Median 41.2%Lowest: Zambia 17.1%Highest: Seychelles 87.8%

Over time

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Internet users against income per person

Each bubble is a SADC country, sized by population. Dashed lines mark the SADC medians. Countries far from the pattern are worth a closer look.

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%$1,000$3,000$10kGDP per person, US$ (log scale)Internet useDRCTanzaniaSouth AfricaAngolaMadagascarZambiaNamibiaBotswana
Source: World Bank, World Bank·dotzedw Insights Centre

Table

The same figures as the map, for screen readers and copying.
RankCountryValueYearFive-year changeGradeDetails
1Seychelles87.8%2024up 11.2 points since 2019A
2South Africa78.4%2024up 8.7 points since 2019A
3Mauritius73.3%2024up 11.6 points since 2019A
4Namibia64.9%2024up 15.1 points since 2019A
5Eswatini63.4%2024up 19.5 points since 2019A
6Botswana57.5%2024up 8.6 points since 2019A
7Lesotho51.8%2024up 9.5 points since 2019A
8Zimbabwe41.6%2024up 15.1 points since 2019A
9Angola40.7%2024up 8.6 points since 2019A
10Comoros32.5%2024up 16.1 points since 2019A
11Tanzania31.2%2024up 14.6 points since 2019A
12Mozambique20.5%2024up 8.0 points since 2019A
13DRC19.7%2024up 6.6 points since 2019A
14Malawi19.0%2024up 7.9 points since 2019A
15Madagascar18.7%2024up 9.3 points since 2019A
16Zambia17.1%2024up 2.6 points since 2019A