Individuals using the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Individuals using the Internet was 35.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Individuals using the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2005–2025
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 35.7% for individuals using the internet in 2025. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.2% on the previous year and up 120.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 35.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2005.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th of 32 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Individuals using the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2.0% | — |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +30.0% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | +19.2% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +16.1% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | +39.5% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +22.7% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +21.7% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +19.6% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +20.9% |
| 2016 | 18.3% | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 20.0% | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 22.0% | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 24.4% | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 26.7% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 29.0% | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 31.1% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 32.3% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 33.6% | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 35.7% | +6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.0% | 4.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 6.0% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.4% | 26.7% | 35.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More infrastructure data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.20 billion (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 90.4 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 5.00 million (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.4 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0038 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -16.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 5.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.9049 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa was 35.7% in 2025, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest individuals using the internet recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest individuals using the internet recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for individuals using the internet?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is individuals using the internet rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 120.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 — 21 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.