Across the world, the internet has become central to how people work, learn, bank, and stay connected. Yet for hundreds of millions of people, especially in Africa, going online is still not part of daily life.
- The internet has become vital globally, but significant portions of populations, notably in Africa, remain offline.
- We Are Social’s report reveals Africa has some of the largest offline populations in absolute numbers and percentage.
- Nigeria leads Africa with 130 million offline individuals despite a growing tech industry and mobile network presence.
- Gender disparities in internet access persist, with women underrepresented online globally and particularly in Africa.
New data from the We Are Social: Digital 2026 Global Overview Report shows that Africa is home to some of the world’s largest offline populations, both in absolute numbers and as a share of total population.
Globally, there are now 5.78 billion unique mobile users, around 70% of the world’s population. Smartphones make up nearly 87% of all mobile handsets, and the vast majority of mobile connections are internet-enabled.
Despite this progress, access to connectivity remains highly uneven. Whether people are online increasingly depends on where they are born, whether they live in urban or rural areas, and their income level.
Africa’s Digital Divide: Millions Remain Offline
Nigeria has an estimated 130 million people without internet access, meaning more than one in two Nigerians are still offline. By sheer numbers, it has the largest offline population in Africa and one of the largest globally.
This is not due to a lack of smartphones or mobile networks. In fact, Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest mobile markets and a rapidly growing tech ecosystem, particularly in cities like Lagos and Abuja.
However, with a population exceeding 230 million, even steady improvements in connectivity leave a substantial number of citizens behind. In other words, Nigeria’s digital progress has not kept pace with its population growth.
Ethiopia and Central Africa face even steeper gaps
Following Nigeria, Ethiopia has over 106 million people offline, nearly eight out of ten Ethiopians do not use the internet. Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 79 million people remain unconnected.
Here, the challenge extends beyond mobile coverage. Many rural communities still lack reliable electricity, affordable data plans, or access to smartphones.
For millions of households, basic needs take priority, and internet access is often viewed not as a necessity, but as a luxury.
Other African countries also face significant connectivity challenges
The digital divide in Africa is closely tied to geography. Most of the offline population lives in rural areas, where network coverage is weaker, incomes are lower, and digital skills are limited.
In Tanzania and Uganda, between 40 and 50 million people remain offline, accounting for more than 70% of their populations.
Mozambique and Madagascar are even more affected, with roughly 80% of citizens disconnected. Meanwhile, countries in the Sahel and Southern Africa, such as Chad, Malawi, and Burundi, have some of the continent’s highest offline rates, ranging from 82% to nearly 89%.
In these regions, rural communities dominate, and factors such as weak network coverage, low incomes, and limited digital skills continue to restrict access. As a result, even modest improvements in mobile infrastructure leave large portions of citizens offline.
Gender disparities persist online
The divide is not only about location, it is also about gender. Globally, 70.7% of women use the internet, compared with 75.7% of men, according to Kepios.
As a result, nearly 240 million more men than women are online worldwide. In Africa, where access to education, income, and personal devices already skews male, closing the digital gender gap remains a significant challenge.
Why Africa’s digital divide matters
For those who remain offline, the consequences are tangible: limited access to online education, fewer job opportunities, difficulty using digital banking or government services, and reduced participation in the global economy.
As more services move online, being disconnected is no longer just inconvenient, it is a growing form of exclusion.
