Internet users (per 1,000 people) in South Africa
South Africa: Internet users (per 1,000 people) was 209.47 per 1,000 people in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Internet users in South Africa, 1990–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 209.47 per 1,000 people for internet users in 2011. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 16.0% on the previous year and up 226.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, internet users in South Africa peaked at 209.47 per 1,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0 per 1,000 people, in 1990.
That places South Africa 10th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Internet users (per 1,000 people) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1991 | 0.1393 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1992 | 0.4094 per 1,000 people | +193.8% |
| 1993 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +193.7% |
| 1994 | 2.61 per 1,000 people | +117.5% |
| 1995 | 7.16 per 1,000 people | +173.9% |
| 1996 | 8.88 per 1,000 people | +23.9% |
| 1997 | 17.1 per 1,000 people | +92.6% |
| 1998 | 30.18 per 1,000 people | +76.5% |
| 1999 | 42.33 per 1,000 people | +40.2% |
| 2000 | 54.41 per 1,000 people | +28.5% |
| 2001 | 64.14 per 1,000 people | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 67.81 per 1,000 people | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 70.86 per 1,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 85.27 per 1,000 people | +20.3% |
| 2005 | 75.83 per 1,000 people | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 77.03 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 81.63 per 1,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 85.21 per 1,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 100.88 per 1,000 people | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 180.51 per 1,000 people | +78.9% |
| 2011 | 209.47 per 1,000 people | +16.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 209.47 per 1,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 154.99 per 1,000 people, 1.4× the median. (8 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 209.47 per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56 per 1,000 people, 3.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Internet users (per 1,000 people) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +193.8% | 0.1393 per 1,000 people | 0.4094 per 1,000 people |
| 1993 | +193.7% | 0.4094 per 1,000 people | 1.2 per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 42.33 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.31 per 1,000 people | 54.41 per 1,000 people | 100.88 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 194.99 per 1,000 people | 180.51 per 1,000 people | 209.47 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 8,549 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 8,549 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is internet users in South Africa?
- Internet users in South Africa was 209.47 per 1,000 people in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest internet users recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 209.47 per 1,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest internet users recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 1,000 people in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for internet users?
- South Africa ranks 10th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is internet users rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 226.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates, published as part of Internet users (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Please cite the International Telecommunication Union for third-party use of these data. Internet users are people with access to the worldwide network.