78.4%
Internet penetration in South Africa in 2024, the latest available observation in this series.
Internet penetration history · ZAF
South Africa internet penetration over time
The latest verified observation is 78.4% in 2024. The available series begins at 0% in 1990, a net change of 78.4 percentage points.
35 VERIFIED OBSERVATIONS · ITU VIA WDIQuick answers
+78.4 pp
Change between the first available observation in 1990 and the latest in 2024.
+8.7 pp
From 2019 to 2024, the observed rate changed by 8.7 percentage points, from 69.7% to 78.4%.
The first observation at or above 50% is 2015 (51.9%). The first observation at or above 75% is 2022 (78.3%).
Historical trend
Each point is an official observation returned by World Bank WDI for IT.NET.USER.ZS. Lines connect observed points for readability; they do not create data for missing years.
Year-by-year internet penetration
| Year | Internet users |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.4% |
| 2023 | 78.3% |
| 2022 | 78.3% |
| 2021 | 75% |
| 2020 | 72.1% |
| 2019 | 69.7% |
| 2018 | 62.4% |
| 2017 | 56.2% |
| 2016 | 54% |
| 2015 | 51.9% |
| 2014 | 49% |
| 2013 | 46.5% |
| 2012 | 41% |
| 2011 | 34% |
| 2010 | 24% |
| 2009 | 10% |
| 2008 | 8.4% |
| 2007 | 8.1% |
| 2006 | 7.6% |
| 2005 | 7.5% |
| 2004 | 8.4% |
| 2003 | 7% |
| 2002 | 6.7% |
| 2001 | 6.3% |
| 2000 | 5.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1% |
| 1998 | 2.9% |
| 1997 | 1.6% |
| 1996 | 0.8% |
| 1995 | 0.7% |
| 1994 | 0.2% |
| 1993 | 0.1% |
| 1992 | 0% |
| 1991 | 0% |
| 1990 | 0% |
Download historical JSON → · Download historical CSV → · Compare countries →
What this measure means
On World Discovery, “internet penetration rate” and “internet users” both refer to the share of individuals who used the internet, matching World Development Indicators code IT.NET.USER.ZS. It is a population-use measure; it is not the same as fixed-broadband subscriptions, mobile subscriptions, connection speed or household access.
Compare internet users by country and year → · Explore the 2024 internet-use ranking →
Internet penetration here means individuals using the internet (% of population). It is reported as % of population. The indicator definition is: Individuals who have used the Internet from any location in the last 3 months.
This series is useful for questions such as “How has internet access changed in South Africa?” and “What is South Africa’s latest internet penetration rate?” It does not estimate people missing from the official observations.
Compare South Africa with similar regional rates
These Sub-Saharan Africa countries have the closest latest observed internet-penetration rates in the same verified history dataset. The links are based on data proximity, not a claim of social or economic similarity.
Cabo Verde
74.7% in 2024. Compare its verified historical internet-penetration series with South Africa.
Mauritius
73.3% in 2024. Compare its verified historical internet-penetration series with South Africa.
Ghana
72.2% in 2024. Compare its verified historical internet-penetration series with South Africa.
Seychelles
87.8% in 2024. Compare its verified historical internet-penetration series with South Africa.
South Africa in Sub-Saharan Africa
Among the 45 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa present in this verified 2024 dataset, South Africa ranks 2nd. Its 78.4% observation is 41.6 percentage points above the regional median of 36.8%. This comparison only describes countries present in this same-year dataset.
Closest same-region observations: Cabo Verde (74.7%) · Mauritius (73.3%) · Ghana (72.2%).
Source and methodology
Indicator: IT.NET.USER.ZS — Individuals using the Internet (% of population).
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, surfaced through World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI), Indicators API v2. License: CC BY-4.0.
Values are kept at their official observation years. Missing years are not backfilled, averaged or interpolated. This page is a historical observation series, not a revision comparison.
Keep exploring
Countries to compare with South Africa
Move through the 2024 ranking or compare South Africa with nearby values in Sub-Saharan Africa .
Colombia
79.3% in 2024 · 1 percentage points higher than South Africa.
Algeria
77.4% in 2024 · 0.9 percentage points lower than South Africa.
Cabo Verde
74.7% in 2024 · 3.6 percentage points lower than South Africa.
Mauritius
73.3% in 2024 · 5 percentage points lower than South Africa.