Africa lags in internet access as global users reach 6.3 billion

Africa lags in internet access as global users reach 6.3 billion - A person using a smartphone. (Photo: Magnific)

Globally, the number of internet users has increased to 6.1 billion in 2025, but about 2 billion people still have no access.

More than half of Africa's population still does not use the internet, even as the number of people going online worldwide rises to 6.3 billion in 2026, a new report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has found.

According to the ITU, only 42 per cent of Africans use the internet, compared with 76 per cent of people worldwide. This leaves 58 per cent of the continent's population offline, making Africa the region with the lowest internet use. Globally, the number of internet users has increased to 6.1 billion in 2025, but about 2 billion people still have no access.

"While surpassing three-quarters of the global population represents an important milestone on the way to universal connectivity, 2 billion people remain offline," the ITU said in its 2026 Facts and Figures report released on Tuesday.

The report also shows that internet use is closely linked to how wealthy a country is. In high-income countries, 93 per cent of people use the internet, compared with only 32 per cent in low-income countries.

Africa's rate is also far below those of other regions. Internet use stands at 93 per cent in Europe, 87 per cent in the Americas, 80 per cent in Asia-Pacific and 74 per cent in the Arab States.

"Internet use remains closely linked to the level of development," the ITU said, highlighting the gap between richer and poorer countries.

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The lack of modern mobile networks is another challenge for Africa. Only 15 per cent of the continent's population can access 5G networks, compared with 59 per cent of people worldwide in 2025. Europe has the highest 5G coverage at 78 per cent, followed by Asia-Pacific at 73 per cent and the Americas at 68 per cent.

The report also found that although 97 per cent of the world's population is covered by mobile networks offering 3G or better services, about 282 million people remain without access, with more than half of them in Africa.

"Just over half of those without access to a mobile broadband network live in Africa," the report said.

Similarly, across Africa, 68 per cent of people aged 10 and above own a phone, but internet use stands at just 42 per cent. The gap is particularly wide between urban and rural communities. Across Africa, people living in cities are 2.2 times more likely to use the internet than those in rural areas. Although the difference has narrowed from 3.1 in 2023, millions of people in rural communities remain without access.

According to the report, obile phone ownership has not necessarily translated into internet access. While 68 per cent of Africans aged 10 and above own a mobile phone, internet use stands at 42 per cent, leaving a gap of 26 percentage points.