Some reports this week about Internet use got me thinking which nations have low online access? I’m counting down this list based on low online use percentage. These are the countries I think we need to take notice of.
10. China: [43.2% have Internet access, 102nd in the world] This stat is due more to censorship than anything else. But the Shanghai business district is opening up, and hopefully, the rest of China will too.
9. Mexico: [38.4% have Internet access, 114th in the world] The US and Canada’s online access rate is in the 80s. What can be done to fix this imbalance?
8. Nigeria [32.9% have Internet access, 128th in the world] They have the second highest online access rate in all of Africa; that’s whats so startling! But if you see an Ebay offer from Nigeria, run!
7. Iran [26% have Internet access, 133rd in the world] Censorship is huge in this nation. But that didn’t stop millions from using social media to protest elections!
6. Syria [24.3% have Internet access, 139th in the world] Obviously this nation has far more issues to worry about than the Internet. But if more people had access to it, I think it would be a powerful way for the Syrian people to tell their own story during this horrible war.
5 India [12.6% have Internet access 164th in the world] It’s one of the fastest growing and most populous nations in the world. Many can’t get wait to get their hands on the latest gadgets. This nation needs to step up it’s online game if it’s going to compete in the global market.
4-3 Iraq and Afghanistan [7.1% and 5.5% have Internet access 179th and 185th in the world] After 12 years of war in these nations, Internet access would be a great symbol of rebuilding. It would also prove a powerful outlet to show the world.
2. East Timor [0.9% have Internet access 210th in the world] There are two countries where online access is less than one percent. This tiny nation in Southeast Asia is one of them.
1. Eritrea [0.8% have Internet access 211th in the world] This nation is East Africa’s horn scored the lowest in media freedoms in the world. In fact, they’ve had no private or free owned media since 2001, a record that rivals North Korea’s.
There’s my list. What other nations are…ahem…worthy of being up here?