Internet users in Nigeria 2018-2022, with forecasts up until 2027

As of 2022, Nigeria had nearly 84 million internet users. This figure is projected to grow to 117 million internet users in 2027. Moreover, internet penetration amounted to over 38 percent of the population in 2022 and is set to reach 48 percent in 2027.

Internet usage in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most populous countries worldwide. As of 2023, there were almost 64 million mobile internet users in Nigeria. Mobile phone internet usage is particularly popular. The country is considered a mobile-first market where infrastructure and online usage development skipped wide-ranging desktop PC adoption and went straight to mobile internet usage via inexpensive smartphones. With more than three-quarters of Nigerian web traffic being generated via smartphones, Nigeria ranks eighth on the list of African countries based on the share of traffic via mobile. Other African markets with a similar share of mobile online traffic are Mali, Gambia, and the Central African Repiblic.

Internet freedom in Nigeria

According to the Freedom House Index, Nigeria ranks fourth in Africa with Malawi , registering 60 index points in the internet freedom index in 2023. The country has very strong libel laws. Subsequently, Nigerian internet users do not often feel free to express themselves online fully.