The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has revealed that Africa has the world’s lowest internet usage rate, with just 38 percent of the population online in 2024, compared to a global average of 68 percent.
The ITU stated this in its latest State of Digital Development in Africa report, which paints a sobering picture of the continent’s digital divide, despite a growing appetite for internet connectivity across Africa.
“While many African countries are working on their ICT rules, only 18 percent have reached the most advanced level of regulation (G4), far below the global average of 38 percent,” the report stated.
The ITU report reveals that even though more Africans want to use the internet, many are still offline due to expensive services, lack of digital skills, and poor network infrastructure, especially in rural areas. It cited cost as the major issue.
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Mobile networks are the main way Africans access the internet. In 2024, mobile broadband covered 86 percent of the population, but 14 percent still had no access at all. In rural areas, this jumps to 25 percent, according to the report.
“While 70 percent of people now have access to 4G, about 16 percent still rely on slower 3G networks. Only 11 percent of the population—mainly in big cities—has access to 5G,” it stated.
“In urban areas, internet usage reached 57 percent in 2024, but only 23 percent in rural areas—this is the widest urban-rural gap in the world,” it added.
ITU stated that this gap is growing because more investments are going into urban areas, leaving rural communities behind, while adding that there is need for better policies and more investment to improve internet access in these underserved areas.
“Digital transformation cannot succeed without robust digital governance,” the ITU warned.
The ITU called for better coordination in digital ID systems, digital skills training, and policies that cut across different sectors. It also urged stronger efforts in cybersecurity and data protection.
