Published: November 11, 2026
Key Facts
- Malawi has Africa's cheapest mobile data. One gigabyte costs $0.38 on average, which makes Malawi the 29th cheapest country in the world. The figures come from Cable.co.uk's Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing table, latest edition reviewed May to June 2026.
- Nigeria is second at $0.39 per gigabyte and Ghana is third at $0.40. The top three combined cost $1.17, which is less than a single gigabyte in South Africa at $1.81.
- South Africa is 149th in the world at $1.81 per gigabyte. 34 African countries pay less per gigabyte than South Africa on Cable's table.
- Zimbabwe has the most expensive mobile data in the world. One gigabyte costs $43.75 there, which is 115 times Malawi's price and more than eight times the whole top 10 combined at $5.28.
- The top 10 average $0.53 per gigabyte, almost five times below the global average of $2.59. Northern Africa is the cheapest region in the world at $0.86 per gigabyte. Sub-Saharan Africa averages $3.31.
| Rank | Country | Region | Average price of 1GB (USD) | World rank (of 237) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi | Southern Africa | $0.38 | 29 |
| 2 | Nigeria | West Africa | $0.39 | 31 |
| 3 | Ghana | West Africa | $0.40 | 33 |
| 4 | Somalia | East Africa | $0.50 | 45 |
| 5 | DR Congo | Central Africa | $0.52 | 49 |
| 6 | Rwanda | East Africa | $0.55 | 52 |
| 7 | Kenya | East Africa | $0.59 | 57 |
| 8 | Morocco | North Africa | $0.63 | 60 |
| 9 | Egypt | North Africa | $0.65 | 62 |
| 10 | Mauritius | Southern Africa | $0.67 | 64 |
Together, the top 10 cost $5.28 per gigabyte, an average of $0.53. That is almost five times below the global average of $2.59. One gigabyte in Zimbabwe costs $43.75, which is more than eight times the whole top 10 combined. Cheap data is not the same as fast data. For speed and reliability, see our ranking of Africa's best countries for internet connectivity.
1. Malawi
Malawi leads Africa at $0.38 per gigabyte. It ranks 29th cheapest in the world out of 237 countries and territories. Malawi is also the cheapest country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The gap to second place is one cent. A second measure disagrees on the level. The ITU's standard 5GB data basket prices Malawi at $0.69 per gigabyte. Both measures agree Malawi is among the cheapest, but Cable's average across all plans is the lower figure. The Methodology explains the difference.
2. Nigeria
Nigeria is second at $0.39 per gigabyte, and 31st cheapest in the world. It is the only country in the top 10 with more than 200 million people. Nigeria's data is cheap on both measures used in this article. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Nigeria even lower, at $0.20 per gigabyte, third cheapest in the world on that measure. South Africa pays 4.64 times Nigeria's price for the same gigabyte. Nigeria's low dollar price is one reason its mobile money and app economy can reach so many people.
3. Ghana
Ghana is third at $0.40 per gigabyte, one cent behind Nigeria and 33rd cheapest in the world. The two West African giants are effectively tied. Readers should know the two measures disagree sharply here. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Ghana at $1.10 per gigabyte, far above Cable's $0.40. The gap comes from method, not error. Cable averages every plan on sale, including large bundles that pull the average down. The ITU prices one standard 5GB plan. This ranking follows Cable, and the disagreement is stated here and in the Methodology.
4. Somalia
Somalia is fourth at $0.50 per gigabyte, and 45th cheapest in the world. It is the cheapest country in the Horn of Africa. Somalia's figure is one of the few where the two measures nearly agree. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Somalia at $0.40 per gigabyte. Somalia has a crowded mobile market with several competing operators and almost no fixed broadband. That competition keeps prices low even though the country has little fixed-line infrastructure.
5. DR Congo
DR Congo is fifth at $0.52 per gigabyte, and 49th cheapest in the world. It is the cheapest country in Central Africa. Its neighbour, the Republic of Congo, charges $0.68, which is 16 cents more. Readers should know the two measures disagree here. The ITU's standard 5GB basket does not place DR Congo among the 100 cheapest countries at all, which means its figure is above $1.76 per gigabyte. This ranking follows Cable, and the disagreement is stated here and in the Methodology.
6. Rwanda
Rwanda is sixth at $0.55 per gigabyte, and 52nd cheapest in the world. Rwanda is cheap on both measures used in this article. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Rwanda even lower, at $0.29 per gigabyte, fifth cheapest in the world on that measure. Rwanda has pushed mobile money and digital government services hard. Cheap data is part of why those services can reach people outside the cities.
7. Kenya
Kenya is seventh at $0.59 per gigabyte, and 57th cheapest in the world. It is East Africa's cheapest large market. Kenya's data costs about 30 percent less than Tanzania's $0.84. Tanzania is 1.42 times Kenya's price. Readers should know the two measures disagree sharply here. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Kenya at $1.55 per gigabyte, far above Cable's $0.59. This ranking follows Cable, and the disagreement is stated here and in the Methodology. Kenya's M-Pesa made the country famous for mobile money, and low data prices help keep that system in daily use.
8. Morocco
Morocco is eighth at $0.63 per gigabyte, and 60th cheapest in the world. It is the cheapest sovereign country in North Africa. Egypt is next at $0.65. Morocco's three operators compete hard for prepaid customers, and large bundles are common. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Morocco at $0.99 per gigabyte, higher than Cable but still cheap by world standards. Morocco is the only North African country in the top 10 besides Egypt.
9. Egypt
Egypt is ninth at $0.65 per gigabyte, and 62nd cheapest in the world. It is the second cheapest country in North Africa after Morocco. Egypt's figure is one where the two measures nearly agree. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Egypt at $0.59 per gigabyte. Egypt has the largest population in North Africa and one of the biggest mobile markets on the continent. Cheap data supports a large base of prepaid users who buy small bundles often.
10. Mauritius
Mauritius is tenth at $0.67 per gigabyte, and 64th cheapest in the world. It takes the last place on a tie. Sierra Leone also costs $0.67 per gigabyte at two decimal places. Cable orders Mauritius ahead because its exact figure is lower, so Mauritius is 64th in the world and Sierra Leone is 65th. The ITU's standard 5GB basket prices Mauritius at $1.18 per gigabyte, higher than Cable but still far below the global average. Mauritius also leads Africa on remote work rankings, where fast internet matters as much as price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African country has the cheapest mobile data in 2026?
Malawi, at $0.38 per gigabyte on average. That is the figure in Cable.co.uk's Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing table, latest edition reviewed May to June 2026. Malawi ranks 29th cheapest in the world out of 237 countries and territories.
Why is South Africa not in the top 10?
South Africa charges $1.81 per gigabyte on average, which puts it 149th in the world. That is 4.76 times Malawi's price. 34 African countries pay less per gigabyte than South Africa on Cable's table. The ITU's separate measure agrees South Africa is expensive. It prices South Africa at $1.29 per gigabyte and counts 27 African countries cheaper than South Africa.
Which African country has the most expensive mobile data?
Zimbabwe, at $43.75 per gigabyte. That is the most expensive price in the world on Cable's table. It is 115 times Malawi's $0.38 and more than eight times the whole top 10 combined at $5.28. South Sudan is next at $23.70, and the Central African Republic follows at $10.90.
Why do Cable and the ITU give different prices for the same country?
They measure different things. Cable averages the price per gigabyte across every mobile data plan on sale in a country. The ITU prices one standard plan, a 5GB data-only basket, and divides by five. Where operators sell large bundles, Cable's average falls below the ITU figure. Ghana is the clearest case: Cable says $0.40 and the ITU says $1.10. This ranking follows Cable because it is the standard global league table for average price per gigabyte. Every disagreement is disclosed in the country sections and the Methodology.
Does cheap mobile data mean good internet?
No. Price per gigabyte says nothing about speed, coverage, reliability or 5G access. A country can have cheap data and slow networks, or expensive data and fast networks. Cheap data also does not mean affordable data. The same dollar price is a heavier burden where incomes are lower. For speed and reliability, see our ranking of Africa's best countries for internet connectivity.
Data Sources
- Cable.co.uk, Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing. Average price of 1GB of mobile data in 237 countries and territories, from 5,603 plans. Latest edition reviewed May to June 2026. Primary source for every figure in the table.
- MyBroadband, The price of 1GB of data in South Africa versus the rest of world, February 16, 2026. StatRanker analysis of the ITU ICT price baskets for 2025, data-only mobile-broadband basket (5GB), standardised to a per-gigabyte price. Second source and cross-check.
- StatRanker, Mobile Data Prices by Country 2026. Republication of the Cable worldwide table with the top 100 cheapest countries listed. Used to confirm transcription of the Cable figures.
Methodology
The ranking uses the average price of one gigabyte of mobile data, in US dollars, from Cable.co.uk's Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing table. Cable surveys mobile data plans in 237 countries and territories and averages the price per gigabyte across all plans on sale in each country. The table used here is the latest edition, reviewed for publication in May to June 2026. The figures are the latest complete public dataset for this measure. The as-of date is stated in the standfirst, the Key Facts and here.
Only sovereign African countries are ranked. Western Sahara costs $0.58 per gigabyte on Cable's table and would sit between Rwanda and Kenya, but it is a disputed territory, not a sovereign country, so it is excluded. Reunion at $0.48 and Mayotte at $0.71 are French overseas departments and are also excluded. Eritrea is not covered by Cable's table at all, so it cannot be ranked. Where two countries show the same price at two decimal places, Cable's world order decides the place. Mauritius at $0.67 is 64th in the world and Sierra Leone at $0.67 is 65th, so Mauritius takes tenth place.
A second source was checked for every country in the top 10. StatRanker, reported by MyBroadband in February 2026, standardised the ITU's 2025 data-only mobile-broadband basket (5GB) to a per-gigabyte price. It measures a different thing from Cable: one standard plan instead of the average across all plans. The two measures agree that Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia and Egypt are cheap, and that South Africa is expensive. They disagree on the level for several countries. Ghana is $0.40 on Cable and $1.10 on the ITU measure. Kenya is $0.59 on Cable and $1.55 on the ITU measure. Malawi is $0.38 on Cable and $0.69 on the ITU measure. DR Congo is $0.52 on Cable and above $1.76 on the ITU measure, outside its top 100. The ranking follows Cable, and each disagreement is disclosed in that country's section above.
Price per gigabyte does not measure speed, latency, coverage, reliability, plan validity or affordability relative to income. Averages are means across plans, not the price the median customer pays. Currency conversion uses the rates at the time Cable compiled the table. All derived claims in this article, including totals, averages and multiples, were recomputed from the final table values before publication.
