• Internet use in Africa is growing twice as fast as the global average

• Only 38% of Africans are online in 2024, far below the 68% global rate

• Sharp digital divides persist across gender, age, and geography

Africa is seeing one of the fastest expansions of internet access in the world. But behind this rapid growth lies a patchwork of inequality that still leaves much of the continent offline.

New figures from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) show that internet access in Africa has grown at an average annual rate of 16.7% since 2005, more than double the global average of 8%. Even though the pace slowed over the last ten years, to 10.7% per year, it still outpaces the rest of the world, which grew at just 6.1% annually.

Yet, despite this strong progress, only 38% of Africans were connected to the internet in 2024, compared to a global average of 68%. That makes Africa the least connected region on Earth.

These numbers reveal how deep-rooted economic and infrastructure challenges are holding back full digital inclusion in many parts of the continent.

A Gender Gap That Still Runs Deep

One of the starkest divides is between men and women. In 2024, 43% of men in Africa used the internet, compared to only 31% of women. That translates to a gender parity score of 0.72, well below the global average of 0.94.

There are some signs of progress. The gender parity score has inched up from 0.69 over the past five years. But this slow rise is not yet enough to overcome the structural exclusion of women from the digital world.

Young People Lead the Way

The digital divide in Africa also has a generational angle. In 2024, 53% of young people aged 15 to 24 were online, compared to just 34% of the rest of the population.

This age gap is wider than the global average, although it is narrowing gradually. The ITU says the enthusiasm of African youth for digital tools is a powerful driver of transformation. Still, more must be done to bring older and more marginalized groups into the online world.

Urban-Rural Divide Remains Wide

Where people live also plays a major role in whether they can access the internet. In cities, 57% of residents were online in 2024. In rural areas, that number dropped to 23%. This 34-point gap is similar to the global average, where urban access is at 83% and rural access at 48%.

In countries where data is broken down by place of residence, a clear pattern emerges: the higher the national internet penetration rate, the smaller the urban-rural gap tends to be. This suggests that targeted public policies and better infrastructure can help bridge the geographic divide, if they are sustained and well-designed.

The path forward is clear; Africa cannot fully embrace the digital age without strong, coordinated action.

Boosting investment in internet infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas, is critical. Governments must adopt inclusive policies that account for gender, age, and location. Only then can the benefits of digital access be shared more fairly.

Telecom operators, development partners, nonprofits, and policymakers all have a role to play in closing Africa’s digital gaps. The continent may be growing faster than the global average in internet adoption, but that progress must be backed by deeper structural change.

In today’s connected world, being left offline means being left behind. For Africa to seize the opportunities of the digital age, digital inclusion must become a top priority, everywhere and for everyone.