Top 10 African Countries with the Lowest Number of Internet Users in 2025

In Summary

• Some countries suffer from old telecom systems, low power coverage, and limited mobile networks, which makes internet access a luxury.
• In some of these countries, armed extremism, political disturbance, and government shutdowns directly disrupt connectivity, damage towers, and limit online freedom.
• High mobile data prices, low smartphone ownership, and weak digital education mean that even where the Internet is present, most people cannot take the risk of using it.

Deep Dive!

Africa's digital future is full of promises. With governments investing in almost every Smartphone and technology, access to the Internet has dramatically expanded in recent years. But progress does not look the same everywhere.

In some countries, getting online is still a challenge. It can be poor infrastructure, economic difficulty, or social disturbance, a large population is cut off from the digital world. While the cities are more connected, millions of struggles in rural cities remain offline.

Here are the top 10 African countries with the lowest number of internet users in 2025 - based on the latest available data.

10. Senegal

Senegal has progressed with efforts to digitize projects such as "Smart Senegal" and public services. But with a population of over 17 million, the number of internet users -11.3 million - is still not enough.

Urban areas such as Dakar and St.Louis have reliable coverage, but rural communities face weak signals and high costs. Even in schools, internet use is low outside major cities. Many young people rely on public Wi-Fi spots or borrowed phones.

9. Tunisia

Tunisia's digital speed slowed down after the beginning of 2010. Today, out of more than 12 million people there are only 10.5 million internet users. While cities like Tunis and Sfax are well covered, rural areas are not so lucky.

Unemployment, economic stress, and new digital taxes have made access easier. Public services often rely on old systems, and power supply issues mean that people with smartphones struggle to stay online.

8. Mali

The internet user base is about 8.72 million, but insecurity in the north and central regions has made many disconnections. Armed groups often damage communication lines, and in many areas, there is a complete shortage of cell towers.

Even in Bamako, access is not always stable. Affordability is a major problem, data bundles are expensive, and many families cannot afford smartphones. In large parts of the country, without electricity, digital access remains out of reach.

7. Zambia

Zambia has around 7.13 million Internet users, mainly concentrated in Lusaka and Copperbelt. Outside these areas, access falls rapidly. Rural areas face poor coverage, and persistent load shedding disrupts network services.

Although mobile penetration is increasing, the cost remains a major obstacle. For many people, internet usage is limited to sending messages or checking news updates - streaming and online education are still out of reach.

6. Mozambique

With a population of 34 million, 6.96 million internet users of Mozambique suggest how far the country still goes. Natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai damaged significant infrastructure, and the recovery has slowed down.

The coverage is packed, and many remote areas have no connections. Schools, clinics, and local government offices struggle without reliable internet. Digital access often comes from informal sources such as community cybercafes.

5. Libya

Libya's 6.57 million users are mainly located in cities such as Tripoli and Benghazi. Beyond those people, the delicate political atmosphere of the country has brought back telecom development. Many rural and desert communities are completely offline.

Frequent blackouts, poor investment in tech infrastructure, and sometimes the government internet shutdown have made regular access easier. Mobile data is used carefully, many people rely on it only during a stable period.

4. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has around 6.45 million internet users, but high data values continuously create a challenge. Even in Harare, users complain of slow speed and frequent outages.

In rural Zimbabwe, the use of the Internet is rare. With limited electricity and ineffective equipment, many people go online for messaging only. The country is the most expensive for mobile data in southern Africa.

3. Burkina Faso

5.75 million internet users of Burkina Faso create less than one-third of the population. Years of rising insecurity and rebellious attacks have crippled telecom expansion in the north and east.

In many parts of the country, mobile towers are regularly destroyed or closed. Even in the capital, Ouagadougou, many people cannot tolerate smartphones or data bundles. Digital literacy is also low, especially among the old population.

2. Rwanda

Although Rwanda is often praised for her technical-age image, numbers tell a different story. Only 4.93 million people are online - less than half the population. Kigali has seen digital growth, but rural areas are far behind.

Electricity is still not universal, and internet-able equipment is very expensive for most families. The government is working on 4G expansion, but the strength remains an important challenge to block the widespread adoption.

1. Benin

Benin ranks at the bottom with only 4.71 million Internet users in 2025. Although some areas, such as Kotonau, have decent coverage, most of the country has been undersized. Villages often lack electricity, using the Internet alone.

Digital growth has been slow due to economic obstacles and underwork in the infrastructure. For many Beninese, obtaining online means to cover long distances in a nearby city, and yet, the experience is incredible and limited.