English accounts for 49.40% of internet content in 2024, vastly outpacing the combined share of the next three languages

Key takeaways:

  • English alone accounts for nearly half of all global web content at 49.40%, setting the tone for internet communication.
  • The next three languages—Spanish, German, and Japanese—combined make up just 16.6%, highlighting the wide gap in representation.
  • Despite having a massive native-speaking population, Chinese is used in only 1.20% of websites.
  • Portuguese, spoken across several continents, represents just 3.80% of internet content.
  • Even major European languages like French and Russian contribute less than 5% each to global web content.

English language leads as the language for website content globally, accounting for more than eight times that of the next closest language, Spanish (6.00%). The combined share of the next three languages (Spanish, German, and Japanese) only adds up to 16.6%, reinforcing the massive lead that English holds in global website communication. This dominance shows why English proficiency remains an essential skill for accessing and distributing information on a global scale.
This has implications for content creators, businesses, and digital marketers across the globe. For instance, a startup in Beijing or São Paulo aiming for international reach will likely prioritise English for their web presence, even if it's not their native language.

Source:

W3Techs

Period:

2024
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
Flutterwave’s UK arm quadruples turnover since 2021, hitting £6.6 million in 2024
  • Flutterwave UK’s turnover rose from £0.93M in 2021 to £6.61M in 2024, showing consistent expansion.
  • Growth cooled from 311% in 2022 to 21% in 2024, reflecting market maturity.
  • The UK unit’s performance is now tied to Flutterwave’s global surge, with over $31 billion in payments processed in 2024.
  • The focus is shifting from rapid scaling to sustainable growth, compliance, and strengthening cross-border infrastructure.
South Africa leads as Africa’s digitally delivered services exports hit $41.3 billion in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total
  • Africa exported $41.3 billion in digital services in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total.
  • South Africa was the continent’s top exporter with $7.05 billion.
  • Morocco ($6.74 billion) and Ghana ($5.18 billion) followed closely.
  • Egypt ($4.03 billion) and Mauritius ($3.53 billion) also ranked among the top five.
  • The top five countries together made up about two-thirds of Africa’s exports.
For every $1 Nigeria earned from exporting digital services between 2005 and 2024, it spent almost $10 on imports
  • Nigeria exported $10.81 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $105.34 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $94.53 billion over 20 years.
  • Exports rose from just $40 million in 2005 to $1.55 billion in 2024.
  • Imports were almost ten times larger than exports, showing a persistent imbalance.
South Africa dominates Africa’s data centre scene with a total of 320 Mega watts capacity across two data centres
  • Teraco in South Africa is Africa’s largest data centre with 200 MW capacity.
  • Nigeria follows with a combined 110 MW from Rack Centre and MainOne.
  • Kenya leads East Africa with a 50 MW facility by Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
  • Morocco’s 40 MW Maroc Datacenter tops North Africa.
Only 16 African countries have launched national AI strategies as of July 2025
  • Just 16 out of 54 African countries have launched a national AI strategy.
  • Over 30 countries remain at the early or inactive stage with no clear roadmap.
  • Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is still drafting its AI policy.
  • Leaders include Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Rwanda, and Senegal.
  • Most low-income and post-conflict states like Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan are far behind.
Meta earns $16.6B profit as Q1 2025 revenue hits $42.3B, over 3× Q1 2018, with half from outside the U.S., Europe & Asia-Pacific.
  • Meta’s revenue reached $42.3B in Q1 2025, more than triple its Q1 2018 revenue, marking a steep and sustained growth curve.
  • Net income surged to $16.6B, its highest in a first quarter, reflecting efficient cost structures and monetisation strategies.
  • The U.S. alone contributed 26.1% of this revenue, followed by Asia Pacific (15.8%) and Europe (7.4%).
  • The “Rest of the World” brought in over 50% of Meta’s total revenue, highlighting a growing influence from emerging markets, including Africa.
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved