Internet penetration in Nigeria rose to 62.4 million users in 2013, going by the latest data, which was compiled from 2009.
It is small figure in Africa’s most populous country of 170 million, but impressive enough to dwarf other growth rates on the continent.
Nigeria also scoredabove the United Kingdom (UK) in the ranking of global information technology access, according to the research conducted by, digitXplus, the digital unit of MediaReach OMD.
The report quoted Euromonitor as its primary source and analysed digital growth across the world from 2009 to 2013.
Compared with the UK, Nigeria had a higher growth in internet users between 2009 and 2013. It had tied at 55 million with the UK in 2012 but took a 14 per cent leap with 62.4 million more users.In 2013, the number in the UK increased by two million to 57 million.
The findings also show that
• Between 2009 and 2013, digital users grew across the globe from 1.748 billion to 2.677 billion (53per cent).
• Developing countries took the lead in digital users,growing from 1.011 billion to 1.834 billion (81 per cent).
• In developed countries, internet users grew from 737 million to 843 million (14 per cent).
Internet users in the Asia Pacific regionrose from 721 million to 1.214 billion (68 per cent); the Americas, 426 million to 573 million (34 per cent); Europe, 436 million to 559 million (28 per cent); the Middle East, 145 million to 308 million (112 per cent); Africa, 61 million to 148 million (143 per cent).
Nigeria maintained its lead in Africa. Its30.9 million internet users in 2009 rose to 62.4 million in 2013 (102per cent); followed by Egypt, 19.5 million to 39.7 million (103per cent).
Nigeria’s high internet penetration is attributed to increased awareness and adoption of digital facilities.
Ethiopia notched 23 per cent, Mozambique (22 per cent), Congo 22 (per cent each), Zambia (20 per cent), and Kenya (18per cent), Morocco (4 per cent).
DigitXplus Managing Director, Patrick Gomes, said with 62.4 million internet users, Nigeria has huge marketing opportunities waiting to be explored.
The growing number of internet users increased the penetration of digital infrastructure from 27per cent in 2011 to 41per cent in 2013.
