Cost of internet shutdowns worldwide 2023

In 2023, Russia ranked first by the economic impact of internet shutdowns in the country. The restrictions placed by the government cost 4.02 billion U.S. dollars in the measured year. Internet users in Myanmar endured a total of 18,768 hours of shutdowns, which affected 23.7 million users and had an economic impact of approximately 974 million U.S. dollars. Brazil had the largest population impacted by the internet shutdowns. Online shutdowns and blackouts are generally seen as an indicator of low internet freedom.

Number of affected users and the economic impact of internet shutdowns in selected countries in 2023

Characteristic	Total cost (in million USD)	Shutdown duration (in hrs)	Affected internet users (in millions)
Russia	4,020	1,353	113
Ethiopia	1,590	14,910	29.8
Myanmar	974	18,768	23.7
Iran	920.3	13,140	33.7
India	585.4	7,956	59.1
Iraq	328.5	465	20.6
Pakistan	237.6	259	82.9
Algeria	101.9	50	32.1
Senegal	57.5	3,946	8.01
Azerbaijan	52.3	3,495	8.6
Guinea	47.4	3,720	4.9
Brazil	46.2	48	174.2
Mauritania	38.5	482	2
Yemen	37.2	2,376	8.8
Venezuela	33.6	2	17.4
Kenya	27	192	15.6
Sudan	12.4	212	4.8
Syria	9.6	34	8.1
Turkey	5.8	12	70
Gabon	5.4	87	1.5
Tanzania	2.8	7,680	14
Cuba	1.7	2	8
Chad	0.8	14	1.8
Zimbabwe	0.5	24	4.4
Suriname	0.1	12	0.4

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2023

Supplementary notes

The source adds the following information: "The economic cost of each internet shutdown is calculated using the Netblocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, which is based on the Brookings Institution method, with CIPESA’s specialized model used for sub-Saharan Africa. Regional shutdown costs are derived from the region’s economic output as a proportion of national GDP."

Citation formats