The global number of internet users continues to rise, thanks to the growing accessibility of affordable devices, better connectivity, and the spread of digital services.
Africa, despite facing numerous challenges, is also experiencing this upward trend. Although internet usage on the continent remains lower compared to other regions, notable progress has been made in recent years.
This advancement is due to multiple factors, such as investments in infrastructure, the expansion of mobile networks, and initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy.
Here is a look at the ten African countries leading in internet usage in 2024 by Statista:
1.
Nigeria (103 million, or 45.2% of the population*);2.
️Egypt (82 million, or 76% of the population);3.
️South Africa (45 million, or 72.6% of the population);4.
️Morocco (34 million, or 92.2% of the population);5.
️Algeria (33 million, or 71.8% of the population);6.
️DR Congo (28 million, or 27.4% of the population);7.
️Ghana (24 million, or 71.3% of the population);8.
️Ethiopia (24 million, or 21.1% of the population);9.
️Kenya (22 million, or 43.3% of the population);10.
️Tanzania (21 million, or 33.4% of the population).The list is completed by Benin (4.69 million, or 33.3% of the population), Burkina Faso (4.69 million, or 19.5% of the population), Rwanda (4.91 million, or 35.42% of the population), Zimbabwe (5.48 million, or 33.2% of the population), and Libya (6.13 million, or 88.7% of the population).
In its report, Statista also noted that the majority of web traffic in leading digital markets in Africa originated from mobile devices. For example, in Nigeria, one of the countries with the largest number of internet users worldwide, 86.2% of web traffic was generated via smartphones and roughly 13.3% via PC devices. This is partly because mobile connections are much cheaper and do not require the infrastructure needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections.
Furthermore, the projected trend for Africa indicates a consistent rise in internet users from 2024 to 2029, with a collective addition of 337.3 million users (equivalent to a growth of 51.79%), according to Statista. Following 15 successive years of growth, the user count is anticipated to reach a record high of 1.1 billion by 2029. Additionally, the online penetration rate on the continent was 43%, which is below the global average of around 68%.
* Here and below, calculations are based on the country's estimated population in 2024 from Statista, except for Benin, whose population data were taken from the World Population Review.