Internet and the use of smartphones and smart devices play a crucial role in the economic and social development of Africa as a continent. However, data that is necessary to access the internet and internet services is still relatively expensive in most African countries.

In Malawi, for example, people pay around 87% of gross national income per capita for 1 Gigabyte of mobile data while in a neighbouring country, Rwanda, people only pay 2%. The reasons for these differences may be due to inflated prices, lack of infrastructure and government intervention.

According to CableUK, one gigabyte of mobile data in Africa costs an average of $27.41. The United Nations also recommends that this amount of data should cost no more than 2% of gross national income per capita.

Source: CableUK Research 2020

However, there are some countries in Africa where the cost of mobile data is relatively cheap when compared to the costs across the continent.

Sudan

North African country, Sudan, leads in the chart for countries in Africa with the cheapest 1GB plan. In Sudan, people pay less than a dollar for 1GB of data. The cost of mobile internet in Sudan is $0.27 for every gigabyte of data

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Sudan also ranks number five in the global ranking of cheapest countries for mobile data, in the world, according to the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2021.

Algeria

Algeria is another Northern African country where 1GB of data is less the $1. Typically, the CableUK report featured more than 230 countries across 12 regions. Comparing the cost of 1GB from over 6,000 mobile data plans, North Africa stands at an average of $1.53 for data plans - positioning the region as the region in Africa with the cheapest data plans.

Other countries with 1GB data plans less than 1$ includes Somalia - $0.60, Ghana - $0.66, Libya - $0.74, Tanzania - $0.75, Mauritius - $0.75, Nigeria - $0.88, Cameroon - $0.90 and Senegal - $0.94.