Which has higher internet users, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Sub-Saharan Africa, at 109.97 million against 10.60 million in South Africa as of 2011.

What is the difference in internet users between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?

99.37 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?

17 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2011.

Where does this data come from?

International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, published as Internet users. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Internet users

South Africa

10.60 million

in 2011

Sub-Saharan Africa

109.97 million

in 2011

South Africa rank

5th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

2nd

Internet users over time

South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 109.97 million against 10.60 million in South Africa, a difference of 99.37 million.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 10.4 times South Africa's.

Across all 17 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	827,257	996,279	169,022	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	3.59 million	22.03 million	18.43 million	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	9.81 million	96.96 million	87.15 million	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher internet users, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 109.97 million against 10.60 million in South Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in internet users between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 99.37 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 17 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2011.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for internet users?: South Africa ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.
Where does this data come from?: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, published as Internet users. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Internet users
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 1,085 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Internet users are people with access to the worldwide network.