South Africa

In brief

Mobile subscriptions per 100 people: 179 (2024). World rank 11 of 210; in Africa, 3 of 54. Air passengers per year: 15.5M (2023). World rank 42 of 163; in Africa, 2 of 40. Scientific articles per year: 14,949 (2023). World rank 33 of 197; in Africa, 2 of 54. From 2014 to 2024: using the internet 49% → 78.4%, mobile subscriptions per 100 people 143 → 179, and home broadband per 100 people 3.1 → 5.4. Better than all its neighbours (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe): using the internet and access to electricity. Worse than all its neighbours (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe): renewable share of energy use.