Top 5 African countries with the most internet usage gap

The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024 by GSMA, the global body of mobile network operators, which gives a detailed review of worldwide connectivity trends and insights on significant hurdles to mobile internet uptake, revealed that Africa remains the region with the largest internet connectivity coverage and usage gaps.

The report also notes that the primary barrier to mobile internet adoption in all of the nations examined, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa, is affordability, especially for internet-enabled phones.

Furthermore, the biggest obstacle to the adoption of mobile internet in all nations polled was a lack of digital skills and literacy, which came in second worldwide.

An entry-level gadget costs 99% of the average monthly income for the poorest 20% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to 25% of the world’s disconnected population. An entry-level, internet-enabled phone costs 24% of a woman’s monthly salary in LMICs, but it only costs 12% for males.

“Connectivity is highest in Southern and Western Africa at around 30%, and lowest in Central Africa at 19%. Central Africa also has the largest coverage gap, at 34%,” the report states.

“Eastern Africa has the largest usage gap within the region, at 68%,” it adds.

With that said, here are the African countries with the largest number of people without internet despite its availability.

This list is primarily number of people without internet as opposed to percentage of internet penetration.

So, countries with the highest population are more likely to make the list, hence the inclusion of technologically advanced countries such as China, India and the United States.