Nigeria has been ranked as the country with the fourth-largest offline population globally, with 128 million people lacking access to the internet as of February 2025.
This revelation was made in a recent report by StatisSense, which highlighted the ten countries with the highest number of people still offline.
India, China, and Pakistan occupied the top three positions, underscoring a significant digital divide in these regions.
India leads the list with a staggering 652 million people offline, making it the country with the largest unconnected population in the world.
Despite the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure in recent years, a significant portion of India’s population, especially in rural areas, remains without internet access.
China follows in second place with 312 million offline citizens, while Pakistan occupies the third position with 137 million people still disconnected from the digital world.
Nigeria’s fourth-place ranking highlights the country’s digital access challenges.
Despite being Africa’s most populous country and a growing tech hub, internet penetration remains limited, particularly in rural areas where access to digital infrastructure is scarce.
The high cost of internet services, poor network coverage, and inadequate digital literacy also contribute to Nigeria’s large offline population.
Ethiopia and Bangladesh complete the top six, with 105 million and 97 million offline individuals, respectively.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (77 million), Indonesia (72 million), Tanzania (49 million), and Uganda (37 million) are also listed among the top ten countries with the highest offline populations.
These figures reflect the growing need for investments in digital infrastructure and affordable internet services in developing nations.
Bridging this digital divide has become a global priority, as internet access plays a crucial role in economic growth, education, and social development.
Governments in these countries, including Nigeria, have been urged to adopt more inclusive digital policies, improve infrastructure, and make internet services more affordable to ensure that a greater percentage of their populations can connect to the global digital economy.
See full list:
1. India — 652M
2. China — 312M
3. Pakistan — 137M
4. Nigeria — 128M
5. Ethiopia — 105M
6. Bangladesh — 97M
7. Congo DR — 77M
8. indonesia — 72M
9. Tanzania — 49M
10. Uganda — 37M
