Mobile data usage in Sub-Saharan Africa significantly lags behind the global average of 21.6 GB per month

Key takeaways:

  • Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest mobile data usage globally, at 6.7 GB/month, which is less than one-third of the global average.
  • India, Nepal, and Bhutan top the global chart with the highest data consumption at 36 GB/month, signalling deep mobile integration in daily life.
  • Gulf Cooperation Council countries follow closely with 31.9 GB/month.
  • Western Europe and North America share the same high usage rate of 25.8 GB/month, indicating mature digital economies with consistent connectivity.
  • Latin America also lags, though still more than twice ahead of Sub-Saharan Africa at 15.2 GB/month.
  • The Middle East and North Africa surpass the global average too, at 22.7 GB/month, further highlighting the unique lag of Sub-Saharan Africa in mobile data use.

Mobile data consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa remains significantly behind the rest of the world, with an average of just 6.7 GB per smartphone per month, far below the global average of 21.6 GB. This highlights a persistent digital divide, where lower usage is often tied to affordability barriers, infrastructure limitations, and limited access to high-speed mobile networks. While more of the world races ahead in data-heavy activities like streaming, e-commerce, and app-based services, large portions of Sub-Saharan Africa are still navigating basic connectivity challenges.

Source:

Ericsson Mobile

Period:

2024
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