Proportion of individuals using the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of individuals using the Internet was 35.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of individuals using the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2005–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 35.7% for proportion of individuals using the internet in 2025. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 120.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 35.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2005.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 33rd out of 35 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.0% | 4.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 6.0% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.4% | 26.7% | 35.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More science & technology data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Scientific and technical journal articles 48,022 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per square kilometre 0.002 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Digital connectivity composite index -1.24 standard deviations from the yearly mean (2025)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, annual growth rate -0.2159 % change on previous year (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 8,160 (2020)
- Patent applications, residents 1,834 (2020)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 94.1% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network 88.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Proportion of individuals using the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa was 35.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of individuals using the internet recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of individuals using the internet recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of individuals using the internet?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of individuals using the internet rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 120.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 — 21 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).