Digital Landscape in South Africa in 2023
In this blog post, Renier Weideman explores how people in South Africans are using the internet and social media in 2023. He’ll also touch on the growth of online shopping.
Getting Online in South Africa
At the start of 2023, about 72% of people in South Africa were using the internet, which is a pretty big number. It means over 43 million people were connected. However, around 27% of the population, roughly 16.66 million people, still weren’t using the internet. Keep in mind, though, these numbers might actually be higher due to some challenges in collecting this data.
Fast Internet Connections
The speed of internet connections in South Africa has gone up. For mobile phones, it’s around 36.70 Mbps, and for fixed connections, it’s about 40.12 Mbps. These are good increases from the previous year.
Many Devices, Many Connections
Many people in South Africa have more than one device connected to the internet. In fact, there are 112.7 million mobile connections, which is more than the total population. This suggests that many people use different devices for personal or work reasons. The number of connections also went up by 4 million from 2022 to 2023.
These stats show that South Africa’s digital world is growing, and businesses have a good opportunity to reach people online. With more connections happening, it’s a great time for businesses to think about digital marketing in South Africa.
Social Media Usage Trends and Statistics
Now, let’s talk about how people are using social media in South Africa.
More People on Social Media
In South Africa, a lot of people are using social media – around 25.8 million people. This is almost 43% of the whole population. And from these users, more than half are over 18 years old.
Social Media and Shopping
People don’t just use social media for fun; they also use it for shopping. Platforms like Facebook have become important for businesses to show their products and connect with customers.
Who’s on What?
- Facebook: About 22.15 million people in South Africa use Facebook. This is a big deal because it’s almost 37% of the population. And almost 51% of these users are women.
- YouTube: YouTube is also popular, with around 25.8 million users. This is 42% of the whole population. The number of people who could see ads on YouTube went up by 2% from 2022 to 2023.
- Instagram: Around 5.65 million people in South Africa use Instagram. It’s not as big as Facebook or YouTube, but it’s still an important place for businesses. More than half of Instagram’s users in South Africa are women.
- TikTok: TikTok is getting popular, especially among adults. About 11.83 million people aged 18 and above use TikTok. The number of people who could see ads on TikTok went up by 83.6% from 2022 to 2023.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional network, and around 11 million people in South Africa use it. It’s not as big as some other platforms, but it’s growing. More than half of LinkedIn’s users in South Africa are men.
- Twitter: Twitter is used by 3.65 million people in South Africa. This is about 6.1% of the whole population, and it grew by 28.1% from 2022.
E-commerce Market in South Africa in 2023
Let’s talk about online shopping in South Africa.
Big Growth in Online Shopping
By 2023, the online shopping market in South Africa is expected to be worth a lot – R1 trillion or US$72 billion. This is because more businesses are using the internet, and people are spending more time online.
Amazon’s Arrival
Amazon, a big online shopping company, is coming to South Africa in 2023. This means more opportunities for businesses to sell things online and for people to buy online.
Conclusion
To sum it up, things are changing fast in South Africa. More people are getting online, using social media, and shopping online. For businesses, this means there are new and exciting opportunities to connect with customers and sell products. Understanding these trends can help businesses succeed in the evolving digital landscape of South Africa.
