Somalia has the most cheapest mobile data in the Africa and the 8th most cheapest in the world, says a new report.
According to a report by Cable.co.uk, a UK price comparison website, Somalia ranks 7 out of 228 countries on the price of mobile bandwidth. Somalia has virtually no broadband infrastructure, which means mobile data is pretty much the only way to access the internet.
The average price of 1GB in Somalia is $0.50 (₦195) which puts the country ahead of countries like Russia (10th) and China (12th), United States (188th) and even The United Kingdom (59th).
Nigeria on the other hand was ranked 58th in the world and 13th in Africa. The average price of 1GB in Nigeria is $1.39 (₦500).
That still makes mobile data in Nigeria cheaper than the United States (188th), Canada (209th), New Zealand (180th), Switzerland (191th), The United Kingdom (59th), Argentina (62rd) and Portugal (165th).
The most expensive mobile data in Africa can be found in Sao Tomé and Príncipe, which is ranked 224th in the world out of 228. The average price of 1GB in the country is $28.26 (₦11, 000) which only puts the country ahead of countries like Nauru (226th) and St Helena (228th) Falkland Island (227th)
Top 10 African Countries With The Cheapest Mobile Data, 2020
Contrary to what one might expect, eight out of the top 50 cheapest countries in the world for mobile data are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The seven Northern African countries included in the research appear higher up the table than the majority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, although none make it into the top ten cheapest in the world.
The cheapest country in the region is Algeria, with an average of $0.65, followed by Western Sahara and Morocco (both $0.99). These three all make it into the world’s top 40 cheapest.
The cheapest mobile data in the Africa can be found in Somalia ($0.50), followed by Sudan ($0.63), Algeria ($0.65), Tanzania ($0.73), and Ghana ($0.94).
1. Somalia
Mobile data prices in Somalia is the cheapest in Africa and the 8th cheapest in the world with an average of $0.50.
2. Sudan
Mobile data prices in Sudan is the second cheapest in Africa and the 8th cheapest in the world with an average of $0.63.
3. Algeria
Data prices in Algeria is the third cheapest in Africa and the 15th cheapest in the world. A GB data is sold for an average of $0.65 .
4. Tanzania
Data prices in Tanzania is the fourth cheapest in Africa, the cheapest in East Africa and the 23rd cheapest in the world. A GB data goes for an average of $0.73.
5. Ghana
Data prices in Ghana is the 34th cheapest in the world, the cheapest in West Africa and the 5th cheapest in Africa. 1GB data goes for an average of $0.94.
6. Western Sahara
Data prices in Western Sahara is the 6th cheapest in Africa and the 36th cheapest in the world with an average of $0.99 for a GB data.
7. Morocco
Data prices in Morocco is the 7th cheapest in Africa and the 37th cheapest in the world with an average of $0.99 for a GB data.
8. Kenya
Data prices in Kenya is the eighth cheapest in Africa, the second cheapest in East Africa and 41 in the world with an average of $1.05 for a GB data.
9. Egypt
Data prices in Egypt is the nineth cheapest in Africa and the 46th cheapest in the world with an average of $1.09 for a GB data.
10. Djibouti
Data prices in Djibouti is the 10th cheapest in Africa, the third cheapest in East Africa and the 48th cheapest in the world with an average of $1.12 for a GB data.
11. Zambia
Data prices in Zambia is the 11th cheapest in Africa and the 56th cheapest in the world with an average of $1.36 for a GB.
| Rank | Country | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia | $0.50 |
| 2 | Sudan | $0.63 |
| 3 | Algeria | $0.65 |
| 4 | Tanzania | $0.73 |
| 5 | Ghana | $0.94 |
| 6 | Western Sahara | $0.99 |
| 7 | Morocco | $0.99 |
| 8 | Kenya | $1.05 |
| 9 | Egypt | $1.09 |
| 10 | Djibouti | $1.12 |
| 11 | Zambia | $1.36 |
| 12 | Tunisia | $1.37 |
| 13 | Nigeria | $1.39 |
| 14 | Rwanda | $1.48 |
| 15 | Uganda | $1.62 |
Top 10 African Countries With The Most Expensive Mobile Data, 2020
Sao Tomé and Príncipe features in the top ten most expensive, the country whose average cost for 1GB of mobile data is an eye-watering $28.26, is joined at the bottom of the table by other countries in the region: São Tomé and Príncipe, Malawi and Benin.
The five most expensive countries in terms of the average cost of 1GB of mobile data are São Tomé and Príncipe ($28.26), Malawi ($27.41), Benin ($27.22), Chad ($23.33) and Botswana ($14.87).
1. Sao Tomé and Príncipe
Sao Tomé and Príncipe has the most expensive mobile data prices in Africa, the country whose average cost for 1GB of mobile data is an eye-watering $28.26 is also the ranked 225th in the world.
2. Malawi
Data prices in Malawi is the 2nd most expensive in Africa with an average of $27.41 for a GB data.
3. Benin
Benin has the 3rd most expensive mobile data prices in Africa, the country whose average cost for 1GB of mobile data is an eye-watering $27.22 is also ranked 223rd in the world.
4. Chad
Chad has the fourth most expensive mobile data prices in Africa. A GB of data goes for an average of $23.33.
5. Botswana
Data prices in Botswana is the 5th most expensive in Africa. A GB of data goes for an average of $13.87 in the country.
6. Eswatini
Mobile data prices in ESwatini is the 6th most costly in Africa. A GB of data sells for an average of $13.31 in the country.
7. Equatorial Guinea
Data prices in Equitorial Guinea is the 7th most expensive in Africa. A GB of data sells for an average of $12.78 in Equitorial Guinea.
8. Seychelles
Seychelles has the 8th most expensive mobile data prices in Africa, the country has an average cost of $11.43 for 1GB of mobile data.
9. Madagascar
Madagascar has the 9th most expensive mobile data prices in Africa, the country has an average cost of $8.81 for 1GB of mobile data.
10. Central Africa Republic
Data prices in Central Africa Republic is the 10th most expensive in Africa. 1GB of mobile data goes for an average of $8.25.
| Rank | Country | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sao Tomé and Príncipe | $28.26 |
| 2 | Malawi | $27.41 |
| 3 | Benin | $27.22 |
| 4 | Chad | $23.33 |
| 5 | Botswana | $13.87 |
| 6 | Eswatini | $13.31 |
| 7 | Equitoria Guinea | $12.78 |
| 8 | Seychelles | $11.43 |
| 9 | Madagascar | $8.81 |
| 10 | Central Africa Republic | $8.25 |
| 11 | Angola | $5.29 |
| 12 | Gambia | $5.10 |
| 13 | Gabon | $4.89 |
| 14 | Cape verde | $4.81 |
| 15 | Namibia | $4.78 |
Commenting on the mobile data research Dan howdle consumer telecom analyst at cable.co.uk had this to say
Many of the cheapest countries in which to buy mobile data fall roughly into one of two categories. Some have excellent mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure and so providers are able to offer large amounts of data, which brings down the price per gigabyte. Others with less advanced broadband networks are heavily reliant on mobile data and the economy dictates that prices must be low, as that’s what people can afford.
At the more expensive end of the list, we have countries where often the infrastructure isn’t great but also where consumption is very small. People are often buying data packages of just a tens of megabytes at a time, making a gigabyte a relatively large and therefore expensive amount of data to buy. Many countries in the middle of the list have good infrastructure and competitive mobile markets, and while their prices aren’t among the cheapest in the world they wouldn’t necessarily be considered expensive by its consumers.
