According to a survey conducted in 2021, individuals in the living standard measure (LSM) bracket 3-6 were the largest group accessing the internet via tablets compared to people in higher brackets. For instance, almost 42 percent of internet users were in the LSM 3-6 bracket compared to 25.1 percent in the LSM 9-10 bracket.
The LSM tool divides the population into 10 groups, 10 being the highest living standard level and one being the lowest. The tool categorizes people according to their living standards with criteria such as ownership of major appliances. Consequently, it is used as an instrument to identify target markets for the distribution of consumer goods in a given country.
Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure
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Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure
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January 18 to May 14 and July 13 to September 31, 2021
Number of respondents
24,666 respondents
Age group
15 years and older
Special properties
The data was collected in two waves
Supplementary notes
The survey question was phrased as follows: "How do you access the internet?"
Living Standard Measure (LSM) is a way of segmenting people into different groups based on social and living standards, in line with their belongings. The higher the LSM, the higher the socioeconomic status.
TGI/AskAfrika, annually interviews 24,666 respondents aged 15+ living in urban areas with 8,000 or more inhabitants, using a stratified random probability sample. The data is weighted to the South African national statistics service, "Statistics South Africa's" population estimates, which allow for an accurate representation of 27.76 million South Africans.
To ensure a nationally representative sample, the survey is based on enumerated area (EA) sampling.
Missing percentage points to 100 percent are probably due to rounding.
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Ornico, & World Wide Worx. (June 30, 2022). Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, und World Wide Worx. "Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure." Chart. June 30, 2022. Statista. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, World Wide Worx. (2022). Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 17, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, and World Wide Worx. "Internet Users Using a Smartphone to Access The Internet in South Africa in 2021, by Living Standard Measure." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jun 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico & World Wide Worx, Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/ (last visited April 17, 2025)
Internet users using a smartphone to access the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure [Graph], Ornico, & World Wide Worx, June 30, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341196/internet-users-with-smartphone-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
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