In 2021, South Africans in living standard measure (LSM) bracket 3-6 (44.8 percent) used the internet first thing in the morning more than individuals in higher brackets. When traveling or commuting, the internet was accessed more by people within LSM 7-8 (39.2 percent), while at work, LSM 9-10 (37.7 percent) represented a slightly higher share of internet users than LSM 7-8 (36.4 percent). Furthermore, people categorized under LSM 7-8 were the largest to use the internet at school, while at home, users within LSM 3-6 accessed the internet more than the rest.
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.
Time and place for using the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure
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: "When/where do you most often 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). Time and place for using the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, und World Wide Worx. "Time and place for using the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure." Chart. June 30, 2022. Statista. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, World Wide Worx. (2022). Time and place for using the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico, and World Wide Worx. "Time and Place for Using The Internet in South Africa in 2021, by Living Standard Measure." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jun 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
Ornico & World Wide Worx, Time and place for using the internet in South Africa in 2021, by living standard measure Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/ (last visited November 17, 2024)
Time and place for using 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/1341237/time-and-place-for-using-internet-in-south-africa-by-lsm/
