Table of Contents
In 2023, South Africa had approximately 43.48 million internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 72.3% of the total population.
Over the previous year (2022 to 2023), the number of internet users in South Africa increased by 357 thousand, corresponding to a 0.8% growth rate. Despite this growth, a significant portion of the population—about 16.66 million people—did not use the internet at the beginning of 2023, indicating that approximately 27.7% of the population remained offline.
In South Africa, the median mobile internet connection speed via cellular networks was 36.70 Mbps, experiencing a notable increase of 6.18 Mbps (20.2%) over the twelve months leading up to the start of 2023, according to Ookla's data. Meanwhile, the median fixed internet connection speed in South Africa was 40.12 Mbps, which saw a more substantial growth of 10.39 Mbps (34.9%) during the same period.
These statistics demonstrate significant improvements in both mobile and fixed internet speeds in South Africa. The increase in internet speeds can contribute to better user experiences, enhanced productivity, and increased accessibility to online services and content. However, efforts should continue to further expand and strengthen internet infrastructure to ensure more equitable and reliable connectivity nationwide.
Definitions
Online population. Total number of individuals or users who have access to the internet and regularly use it for various purposes, such as communication, information gathering, entertainment, shopping, and more (at least once in a month)
Additional Notes
Release Date: April 2024
Region: South Africa
Time Period: 2009 to 2028
Author: Datum Research Team
Source: Datum Global Online Population Forecast 2023-28
Methodology
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