Number of people using the Internet in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people using the Internet was 50.15 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people using the internet in South Africa is 50.15 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 84.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in South Africa peaked at 50.15 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1990.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people using the Internet in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 people | — |
| 1991 | 5,544 people | — |
| 1992 | 16,510 people | +197.8% |
| 1993 | 49,359 people | +199.0% |
| 1994 | 108,690 people | +120.2% |
| 1995 | 301,546 people | +177.4% |
| 1996 | 379,936 people | +26.0% |
| 1997 | 744,370 people | +95.9% |
| 1998 | 1.35 million people | +80.7% |
| 1999 | 1.93 million people | +43.1% |
| 2000 | 2.52 million people | +31.0% |
| 2001 | 3.02 million people | +19.7% |
| 2002 | 3.22 million people | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 3.40 million people | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 4.13 million people | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 3.71 million people | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 3.80 million people | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 4.08 million people | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 4.31 million people | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 5.17 million people | +20.0% |
| 2010 | 12.56 million people | +142.9% |
| 2011 | 18.00 million people | +43.3% |
| 2012 | 22.05 million people | +22.5% |
| 2013 | 25.43 million people | +15.3% |
| 2014 | 27.24 million people | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 29.45 million people | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 30.92 million people | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 32.37 million people | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 36.57 million people | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 41.53 million people | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 43.67 million people | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 46.11 million people | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 48.84 million people | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 49.52 million people | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 50.15 million people | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 50.15 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.93 million people, 10.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 50.15 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.88 million people, 12.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +199.0% | 16,510 people | 49,359 people |
| 1992 | +197.8% | 5,544 people | 16,510 people |
| 1995 | +177.4% | 108,690 people | 301,546 people |
| 2010 | +142.9% | 5.17 million people | 12.56 million people |
| 1994 | +120.2% | 49,359 people | 108,690 people |
| 1997 | +95.9% | 379,936 people | 744,370 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 487,637 people | 0 people | 1.93 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.74 million people | 2.52 million people | 5.17 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.61 million people | 12.56 million people | 41.53 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.66 million people | 43.67 million people | 50.15 million people | 5 |
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 number of people using the internet in South Africa?
- Number of people using the internet in South Africa was 50.15 million people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi.
- What is the highest number of people using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.15 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people using the internet?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 84.1%. 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), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi, published as part of Number of people using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people who used the Internet in the last three months.