European countries show a strong presence in top 10 online gambling participation, with Norway taking the lead (30.2%)

Key takeaways:

  • Five  European countries make the top 10 list in online gambling participation.
  • Norway tops the list with 30.2% of internet users aged 16+ involved in online gambling.
  • South Africa follows closely behind at 30.0%, making it the highest in Africa among the countries studied.
  • Nigeria's 19.0% participation rate exceeds that of the U.K., marking a significant shift in global online gambling behaviour.
  • Brazil slightly edges out Nigeria at 19.5%, showing the trend’s strong hold in Latin America.
  • New Zealand and Greece also post high figures at 26.2% and 22.5% respectively, reflecting strong uptake in smaller but digitally active nations.
  • Australia ranks surprisingly low at 17.2%, despite its known betting culture.

Countries like Norway and South Africa are leading in the engagement of online gambling 30% participation among internet users aged 16 and above. Nigeria ranks above countries like the U.K. and Australia, with 19.0% of its online population engaging in online gambling as of September 2024. Notably, five European countries (Norway, Greece, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and Austria) make the top ten list, indicating high online gambling engagement in the continent.
Nigeria’s leap ahead of traditionally gambling-heavy countries like the U.K. (17.9%) shows how mobile accessibility and sports enthusiasm are shaping online activity. In cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt, betting shops have evolved into digital platforms that fit seamlessly into the everyday mobile habits of young adults. The convenience of apps, combined with the growing influence of international football, has driven significant traction in the online gambling space, especially among youths aged 18 to 35.

Source:

Global Web Index (GWI)

Period:

2024
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
Somalia ranks lowest in Africa’s 2024 Infrastructure Index with score of 7.1
  • Somalia has the lowest AIDI score in Africa at 7.10, reflecting extremely poor infrastructure across all sectors.
  • South Sudan (7.38) and Niger (8.12) rank slightly higher, showing similarly weak infrastructure profiles.
  • Ethiopia (13.09) and the Central African Republic (13.23), though more advanced than others on the list, still score under 15.
  • Nigeria's AIDI score of 25.70, while not high by global standards, is more than three times higher than Somalia’s, indicating major disparities in infrastructure across the continent.
Seychelles tops Africa’s 2024 Infrastructure Index with a near-perfect score of 99.77
  • Seychelles leads Africa with a near-perfect AIDI score of 99.77.
  • Egypt and Libya follow with strong performances of 91.43 and 85.84, respectively.
  • Tunisia ranks 6th with a score of 74.18, showing consistent infrastructure growth.
  • Morocco and Algeria, despite being major economies, scored below 75.
  • Botswana rounds out the top 10 with a score of 42.13, nearly double Nigeria’s score.
  • Nigeria, despite its economic size, scored just 25.70, far below the continental leaders, highlighting major infrastructure gaps.
Seychelles’ infrastructure score more than doubled in 20 years, hitting 99.77 in 2024
  • Seychelles' AIDI score more than doubled between 2003 (47.43) and 2024 (99.77).
  • The score crossed the 70-point mark in 2009 and jumped past 90 in 2013.
  • Between 2012 and 2024, the country maintained an AIDI score above 89, showing long-term infrastructure strength.
  • From 2003 to 2008, the score rose steadily each year, averaging more than 2 points annually.
  • The last five years (2020–2024) showed minimal fluctuation, with scores above 98 every year.
  • This performance positioned Seychelles as Africa’s most infrastructure-ready nation in 2024.
During Goodluck Jonathan's administration, Nigeria's AIDI score saw a notable increase, with a CAGR of 6.84%
  • Goodluck Jonathan's era (2010–2015) delivered the highest AIDI growth, with a CAGR of 6.84%, more than double that of his successor.
  • Muhammadu Buhari’s administration saw steady but slower growth, with a CAGR of 2.63%, increasing the score from 20.60 in 2016 to 25.70 in 2024.
  • Musa Yar’Adua’s brief tenure (2007–2010) still managed a solid CAGR of 4.26%, indicating promising momentum that was cut short.
  • Nigeria's AIDI score rose from 8.61 in 2003 to 25.70 in 2024, nearly tripling in two decades.
  • Obasanjo’s tenure saw the slowest growth, with only a 2.59% CAGR, suggesting limited infrastructure expansion in the early 2000s.
  • The fastest absolute annual increase occurred between 2010 and 2014, when scores jumped by over 2 points per year.
  • Despite steady growth, Nigeria's 2024 score of 25.70 still places it far from top performers in Africa, showing that significant infrastructure gaps remain.
Pius IX, O.F.S., held the longest pontificate since the 15th century to 2025, with 11,465 days
  • Pius IX served the longest papacy from the 15th century to 2025, with 11,465 days, over three decades.
  • John Paul II comes in second with 9,658 days, guiding the Church through some of the most politically charged eras of the 20th century.
  • Leo XIII is third, serving 9,275 days, during a time of major global industrial and philosophical shifts.
  • Only three popes have served more than 9,000 days.
  • Modern popes like Francis I and Paul VI managed to serve over 4,700 and 5,500 days, respectively, reflecting continued longevity in the modern Church.
  • The 17th and 18th centuries saw multiple popes—Urban VIII, Clement XI, and Pius VI—with pontificates exceeding 7,000 days.
Burkina Faso's infrastructure development, as indicated by the AIDI, reached its highest recorded score of 22.11 in 2024, highlighting substantial infrastructure deficits
  • Burkina Faso's AIDI score increased by over 10 points between 2003 (11.36) and 2024 (22.11).
  • The country experienced notable improvements between 2010 and 2012, with scores rising from 12.72 to 14.25.
  • The period between 2018 and 2024 showed the most consistent yearly growth, climbing from 17.51 to 22.11.
  • Between 2007 and 2008, Burkina Faso saw one of its smallest improvements, with only a 0.38-point increase.
  • The country's AIDI score crossed the 15-point mark in 2013 and has not dropped below it since then.
  • Between 2019 and 2024 alone, Burkina Faso added nearly 5 points to its score, showing accelerated development efforts.
  • Despite positive growth, the 22.11 score in 2024 still reflects major infrastructure deficits when compared to an ideal score of 100.
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