Africa's seven highest internet using countries

© Matthias Ziegler via 123RF

This view however is one that is enjoyed by people in first world countries where internet access is cheap and readily available.

On the African continent however, we face many challenges that need to be overcome before this dream can become a reality. Cost, scalability, power outages and education barriers are just some of the many challenges facing the mass roll out of internet on the continent.

These challenges, combined with other economical and sociological barriers, see that Africa makes up just 9.1% of the world’s total internet usage according to Internet World Stats. Although this 9.1% might look like a lot when compared to the 8.7% of North America or the 0.3% of the Middle East, the fact that there is almost a billion more people living on the African continent than in the Middle East and North America, shows just how poor the internet penetration is.

Out of an estimated 1,246,504,865 people living in Africa, just 335,453,374 have access to the internet. This leaves Africa with a 26.9% penetration rate according to Internet World Stats, which, when compared to the penetration rates of North America  88.1%), Europe (76.7%) or even the Middle East at 56.5%, and Latin America/Caribbean at 59.4%, it is clear that internet access is far from becoming a human right in Africa.

Although these statistics may paint a bleak picture, there are still many African countries who are on the right path and make up the bulk of the internet usage.

Here are Africa’s top seven internet using countries:

1. Nigeria  

West African country Nigeria is Africa’s most populated country with an estimated 191,835,936 living in Nigeria. The country has an internet penetration rate of 47.9% as 91,880,032 of the country’s population has access to the internet. Nigeria is ranked as African’s highest internet using country, making up 27.4% of the continents total usage.

2. Egypt     

North African country Egypt has an estimated population of 95,215,102. Out of this total population just 34,800,000 have access to the internet, leaving the country with an internet penetration rate of 36.5%. Egypt is Africa’s 2nd highest internet using country making up 10.4% of the continents total.

3. Kenya      

Kenya is in East Africa, with a coastline on the Indian Ocean. There is an estimated 48,466,928 million people living in Kenya, with 31,985,048 of country’s population being able to access the internet, Kenya has a internet penetration rate of 66%. This leads Kenya to contribute 9.5% of the continents total internet usage, thus making it Africa’s 3rd highest internet using country.

4. South Africa    

Located on the Southern tip of the continent, South Africa has an estimated population of 55,436,360. Out of this total population, 28,580,290 have access to the internet leaving the country with an internet penetration rate of 51.6%. South Africa contributes 8.5% to Africa’s total internet usage, making the it Africa’s 4th highest internet using country.

5. Morocco    

This North African country borders both the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Morocco has an estimated population of 35,241,418, with an internet penetration rate of 57.3%, meaning 20,207,154 people in Morocco have internet access. The country is Africa’s 5th highest internet using country, making up 4.5% of the continents total.

6. Algeria    

Algeria is a North African country which is located on the Mediterranean coast line. There is an estimated 41,063,753 people in Algeria but with just 15,000,000 of those people having access to internet, the country has an internet penetration rate of 36.5%. Algeria makes up 4.5% of Africa’s total internet usage making it the 6th highest internet using country on the continent.

7. Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa and is the world’s second most populous landlocked country, with an estimated 41,652,938 people. Uganda has an internet penetration rate of 28.6% with just 11,924,927 people having access to the internet. The country is Africa’s 7th highest internet using country making up 3.6% of the continent’s total usage.