- The Hootsuite/WeAreSocial/DataReportal annual data report shows that internet adoption in Africa is on the increase due to a number of factors which are growing population, rising GDP across African countries.
- Report shows that internet users grew globally from 4.66 billion (59% of the population) to 4.95 billion (62.5% of the population) in 2021.
- In Africa, Northern Africa went up from 56% to 63% ahead of worldwide average growth.
West Africa showed no change from 42%.
By Juliet Gillies
A few months ago, we looked at internet adoption in Africa and the related data as at December 2020 here. The data showed that:
Eastern Africa had the largest population, but Central Africa had the fastest growing population. Southern Africa had the highest percentage of population connected to the internet, while Central Africa showed the highest growth in internet use.
The biggest populations (in absolute terms) still not connected to the internet were in Eastern Africa, followed by Western Africa.
All African regions still lagged a long way behind many other regions of the world in terms of internet users as a percentage of the population.
In this article, we look at some of the most important changes in the area of connectivity in the year to December 2021, using the annual report on the relevant data published by Hootsuite/WeAreSocial/DataReportal.
First, the average worldwide year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in population was +1%: up from 7.83 billion to 7.91 billion. The worldwide average median age changed rose slightly from 31 to 31.4.
Next, internet users grew from 4.66 billion (59% of the population) to 4.95 billion (62.5% of the population). In terms of internet use as a percentage of population, the Y-o-Y change worldwide was +4%: up from 59.5% (2020) to 62.5% (2021).
In Africa, the Y-o-Y change was:
- Northern Africa: up from 56% to 63%, so ahead of worldwide average growth.
Western Africa: no change from 42%. This suggests that growth in population was at the same pace as internet adoption. - Central Africa: down from 26% to 24%. This suggests that growth in population was at a higher rate than internet adoption.
- Eastern Africa: up from 24% to 26%, so below worldwide average annual growth. Perhaps for the same reason as in Central Africa.
Southern Africa: up from 62% to 66%, so in line with the worldwide average annual growth rate.
There are, of course, differences in internet adoption rates between countries within each region as well. The graph below shows the differences for the selected African countries included in the reports, in comparison to the worldwide average.
It shows:
The internet adoption rate (as a percentage of population) increased in all instances where the figures are available for both years, except in CAR, where it decreased from 11.4% to 7.1%.
Both South Africa (68.2%) and Egypt (71.9%) are now ahead of the worldwide average (62.5%).
The biggest increase was in Egypt – up from 57.3% to 71.9% – and Egypt has now overtaken South African in terms of internet connectivity as a percentage of the population and leads in Africa.
Eritrea was last in 2020 (6.9%), but grew to 8% and overtook CAR, which dropped from 11.4% to 7.1%.
Ghana (52%) and Nigeria (51%) are closing in on the worldwide average quickly. Kenya (42%) is also showing good growth.
GDP has an impact on internet connectivity; therefore, this also needs to be considered when looking at internet connectivity on the continent. The report indicates the change in GDP per capita for six selected African countries, as shown in the graph below, in comparison with the worldwide average.
It shows:
- All six African countries are still well below the worldwide average (US$17062).
- GDP per capita dropped in all instances, including the worldwide average, except in Egypt, where it increased from US$12284 to US$12608. This was to be expected, because of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
- South Africa dropped from US$13064 to US$12096, which meant it dropped below Egypt.
