Individuals using the Internet in South Africa
South Africa: Individuals using the Internet was 78.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Individuals using the Internet in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 78.4% for individuals using the internet in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, individuals using the internet in South Africa peaked at 78.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 112th of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Individuals using the Internet in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +192.5% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +193.1% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +116.7% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | +174.1% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | +24.4% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | +93.6% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +78.5% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | +41.6% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | +29.8% |
| 2001 | 6.3% | +18.7% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +20.2% |
| 2005 | 7.5% | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 24.0% | +140.0% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +41.5% |
| 2012 | 41.0% | +20.7% |
| 2013 | 46.5% | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 51.9% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 54.0% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 62.4% | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 69.7% | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 72.1% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 75.0% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 78.3% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 78.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 78.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 5.3% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 24.0% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.4% | 72.1% | 78.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individuals using the internet in South Africa?
- Individuals using the internet in South Africa was 78.4% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest individuals using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 78.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest individuals using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for individuals using the internet?
- South Africa ranks 112th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is individuals using the internet rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Individuals using the Internet (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.