Digital Adoption in South Africa
78% internet use · EGDI rank 40 of 193
This profile brings together internet use, financial inclusion and UN e-government indicators for South Africa, with source years shown alongside each figure.
Internet and Connectivity
Internet use in South Africa is reported at 78% for 2024. The indicator measures individuals using the internet rather than subscriptions.
| Connectivity indicator | South Africa | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals using the internet | 78% | 2024 |
Digital Payments
Financial-inclusion indicators are shown separately from connectivity measures because they describe account ownership or payment use.
| Payments and financial inclusion | South Africa | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Account ownership, age 15+ | 81% | 2024 |
Digital Government
South Africa ranked 40 of 193 UN member states in the 2024 E-Government Development Index, with an EGDI score of 0.8616 and is classified in the Very High group.
| UN E-Government Development Index | South Africa |
|---|---|
| EGDI score | 0.8616 |
| Global rank | 40 |
| EGDI group | Very High EGDI |
South Africa vs. Region and World
South Africa is compared only where the same indicator definition is available for the country, its region and the world.
| Indicator | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet use | 78% (2024) | 36% (2025) | 74% (2025) |
Key Takeaways
- Internet use was 78% in 2024, compared with the latest Sub-Saharan Africa headline of 36%.
- Account ownership was 81% in 2024, adding a financial-access perspective to the connectivity figure.
- South Africa ranked 40th in the 2024 UN EGDI and is in the Very High group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of people in South Africa use the internet?
78% in 2024.
What is South Africa's UN E-Government ranking?
South Africa ranked 40 of 193 UN member states in 2024, with an EGDI score of 0.8616.
How developed is digital government in South Africa?
South Africa ranked 40 of 193 UN member states in 2024, with an EGDI score of 0.8616.
Does this page estimate missing digital-adoption data for South Africa?
No. Missing observations are left unavailable rather than estimated.
Sources & methodology
Sources for the indicators and definitions shown above.
View sources used for this page
Individuals using the internet; World Bank WDI republishes the underlying ITU series.
Data note: Indicators are shown with their published reference years.
EGDI score, rating group and global rank among 193 UN member states.
Data note: When comparing South Africa with regional or global figures, use the year printed beside each value because collection periods can differ.