Proportion of individuals using the Internet (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of individuals using the Internet (%) was 78.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of individuals using the Internet in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of individuals using the internet in South Africa stood at 78.4%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of individuals using the internet in South Africa peaked at 78.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 123rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Proportion of individuals using the Internet (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.3% | — |
| 2001 | 6.3% | +18.9% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +20.0% |
| 2005 | 7.5% | -10.7% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 24.0% | +140.0% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +41.7% |
| 2012 | 41.0% | +20.6% |
| 2013 | 46.5% | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 51.9% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 54.0% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 62.4% | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 69.7% | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 72.1% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 75.0% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 78.3% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 78.3% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 78.4% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 78.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 81.6%, 96% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 78.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35.0%, 2.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Proportion of individuals 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +140.0% | 10.0% | 24.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.5% | 5.3% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 24.0% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.4% | 72.1% | 78.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 120 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 79.7% compare
- 121 Niue 79.6% compare
- 122 Colombia 79.3% compare
- 124 British Virgin Islands 77.7% compare
- 125 Algeria 77.4% compare
- 125 Republic of Moldova 77.4% compare
- 125 Moldova 77.4% compare
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 proportion of individuals using the internet in South Africa?
- Proportion of individuals using the internet in South Africa was 78.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of individuals using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 78.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of individuals using the internet recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of individuals using the internet?
- South Africa ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of individuals using the internet rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of individuals using the Internet (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).