According to a recent report released by cable.co.uk, Nigeria has emerged as the 31st-ranked country with the lowest cost of data or data price globally. The country has an average price of 1GB of data at $0.39, (N390, using an exchange rate of N1000).
While this places Nigeria among the league of countries where data is affordable compared to some other nations, significant disparities exist within the country itself. The cost of 1GB of data in Nigeria ranges from as low as $0.13 to as high as $1.64, showing the diversity of pricing options available.
Per the report, Sub-Saharan African countries face a greater challenge, with only six countries from the region ranking among the top 50 cheapest globally. Malawi leads the region at $0.38, while countries like Zimbabwe, Saint Helena, and South Sudan are among the most expensive in the world, painting a complex picture of digital accessibility.
In contrast, Northern African countries offer relatively affordable mobile data, with Western Sahara being the cheapest at $0.58. Mauritania stands out as the most expensive in the region at $1.32. Given these statistics, Northern Africa, as a whole, ranks as the cheapest region worldwide with an average cost of 1GB: $0.86
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Global mobile data price
The report highlights the five most and least expensive countries worldwide for 1GB of mobile data. At the pinnacle of the cost spectrum are countries like Zimbabwe ($43.75), the Falkland Islands ($40.58), and Saint Helena ($40.13). Notably, three out of these five nations are located in Sub-Saharan Africa, painting a concerning picture of the region’s cost of digital accessibility. Island nations, known for their higher data prices, also feature prominently.
Conversely, countries like Israel ($0.02), Italy ($0.09), and Fiji ($0.09) offer some of the most affordable mobile data globally. Notably, Italy provides the cheapest mobile data in Western Europe, reflecting the advanced infrastructure in the region. Israel, renowned for its 5G leadership, offers both cutting-edge technology and affordable data.
The United States remains, rather surprisingly, one of the most expensive nations on the planet for purchasing mobile data, coming in 219th in the world, with an average 1GB cost of USD 6.00
Commenting on the report, Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk, said:
“Our yearly mobile data pricing tracking study is as much a measure of the quantity of data offered as it is the price of data more broadly. After all, those countries with the most improved (cheaper) pricing across the five years our tracker now covers tend to be those offering tens or even hundreds of times more data in 2023 as was available for similar money in 2019.“
“It’s encouraging to see the price of data coming down across the globe as whole, with the vast majority of countries offering 1GB of mobile data for less than USD 2.00. It’s a very different picture to the one we saw in 2019.”
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Data prices coming down amidst Global downturn
According to the report, there are stark disparities in mobile data prices across the globe. The report which compared the price of 1G mobile data in 237 countries, revealed that data prices continue to fall globally despite economic turmoil.
The report highlights countries that have significantly improved data affordability over the years, with pricing per GB becoming 97%+ cheaper. Conversely, only a few countries have seen data prices rise, often due to unique circumstances like currency fluctuations or geopolitical events. Syria’s descent into war, for example, or large fluctuations between the local currency and the American dollar, all lead to increases in price.
How countries were categorised
The report categorizes countries into four archetypes to explain mobile data pricing variations:
Excellent Infrastructure: Countries with robust 4G or 5G networks tend to offer more data at lower prices due to expanded data caps or unlimited plans.
Heavy Reliance: Nations with limited fixed-line broadband options rely heavily on mobile data, fostering competition and lower prices.
Small Consumption: In countries with basic or overburdened infrastructure, low data amounts with high per-GB costs are common.
Wealthy Economy: Wealthier nations offer decent data caps, but prices align more closely with the global average due to increased infrastructure costs.
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