Kenya Leads Africa in Internet Penetration Versus Population

A report released by Internet World Stats shows that Kenya is leading Africa in Internet Penetration at 83.0 percent.

The report, that estimates the country’s population to be over 52.2 million, also reveals significant growth in the number of internet users from 200,000 in the year 2000 to 43 million users by 31st March 2019. The increase in internet penetration for the last nine years hence stands at an impressive 21,564 percent.

Tanzania with an estimated population of over 60.9 million citizens has also experienced a growth in internet penetration, though not as big as that of Kenya, from 115,000 internet users in 2000 to 23 million internet users by 31st March 2019. Tanzania’s increase by 19,900 percent has seen the citizens become more active on social media platforms.

Sudan, with an estimated population of 42.5 million citizens has largely grown its numbers in internet penetration. Sudan’s internet penetration has increased from a mere 30,000 users to a notable over 11 million users.

South Sudan, which is considered to be Africa’s youngest country, is estimated to have a population of 13 million and figures of the countries internet penetration in the year 2000 are not recorded most probably because the country faced political instability. South Sudan’s current internet penetration by 31st March 2019 is over 2 million attributed to the return of peace and stability in the country.

Somalia has always been challenged by conflict and political instability with uprise of outlawed militia groups like Al-Shabaab threatening not only the country’s peace and security but that of neighboring countries too. Somalia is currently estimated to have an over 15 million population with great growth in internet penetration from a mere 200 internet users to 1.2 million users.

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South Africa estimated to have over 58 million people has always been on the top ranking countries in Africa on economic and development matters. South Africa had 2.4 internet users by the year 2000 which has since grown to over 31 million internet users.

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Kenya’s neighbor, Uganda, which is estimated to have over 45.7 people, has greatly grown the number of people using the internet from 40,000 in the year 2000 to a notable 19 million users by 31st March December.