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Internet users — all countries

Internet users — South Africa

Internet users in South Africa in 2024 — 78.36%. Ranked 102 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 78.36 pp.

2024 78.36% +0.02 pp vs 2023
World rank 102of 182
Period maximum 78.36%2024
Period minimum 0%1990

Trend over time

1990–2024 · % of population

Internet users — South Africa, 1990–202402040608019901994199820022006201020142018202220241990: 0%1991: 0.01%1992: 0.04%1993: 0.11%1994: 0.25%1995: 0.68%1996: 0.84%1997: 1.63%1998: 2.91%1999: 4.12%2000: 5.35%2001: 6.35%2002: 6.71%2003: 7.01%2004: 8.43%2005: 7.49%2006: 7.61%2007: 8.07%2008: 8.43%2009: 10%2010: 24%2011: 33.97%2012: 41%2013: 46.5%2014: 49%2015: 51.92%2016: 54%2017: 56.17%2018: 62.4%2019: 69.7%2020: 72.11%2021: 74.97%2022: 78.29%2023: 78.34%2024: 78.36%
Change over the period: +78.36 pp Annual average: 2.3 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 78.36%
World 71.2%
Sub-Saharan Africa 33.6%
Southern Africa computed 75.98%
Upper-middle-income countries computed 86.99%
Internet users — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 78.36 +0.02 pp
2023 78.34 +0.04 pp
2022 78.29 +3.32 pp
2021 74.97 +2.86 pp
2020 72.11 +2.42 pp
2019 69.7 +7.3 pp
2018 62.4 +6.23 pp
2017 56.17 +2.17 pp
2016 54 +2.08 pp
2015 51.92 +2.92 pp
2014 49 +2.5 pp
2013 46.5 +5.5 pp
2012 41 +7.03 pp
2011 33.97 +9.97 pp
2010 24 +14 pp
2009 10 +1.57 pp
2008 8.43 +0.36 pp
2007 8.07 +0.46 pp
2006 7.61 +0.12 pp
2005 7.49 −0.94 pp
2004 8.43 +1.42 pp
2003 7.01 +0.3 pp
2002 6.71 +0.36 pp
2001 6.35 +1 pp
2000 5.35 +1.23 pp
1999 4.12 +1.21 pp
1998 2.91 +1.28 pp
1997 1.63 +0.79 pp
1996 0.84 +0.17 pp
1995 0.68 +0.43 pp
1994 0.25 +0.13 pp
1993 0.11 +0.08 pp
1992 0.04 +0.03 pp
1991 0.01 +0.01 pp
1990 0 —

Southern Africa, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

ZA South Africa 78.36 NA Namibia 64.87 SZ Eswatini 63.4 BW Botswana 57.46 LS Lesotho 51.8
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of the population that has used the internet over the last three months — from any device and in any place. The ITU definition is deliberately broad, so the indicator reflects the penetration of access rather than the intensity of use. The data come from household surveys; where there are no surveys, ITU publishes estimates.

Source: ICT Indicators (ITU), license ITU terms of use.

Other indicators for South Africa

Internet Fixed broadband internet

The number of fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people.

South Africa by year Internet Mobile cellular subscriptions

The number of mobile subscriptions per 100 people — often more than 100.

South Africa by year Internet Secure internet servers

The number of servers with TLS/SSL certificates per million people.

South Africa by year Internet ICT service exports

The share of computer, communications and information services in exports of services.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa