São Tomé and Príncipe’s internet users rose to 59.1% of population in 2024.

Higher is better. A larger share online means more people can reach information, public services, banking and work that depends on a connection, so a higher figure is better. The latest figure is 59.1% of population for 2024, up from 58.7% of population a year earlier, a rise of 0.42 percentage points. Since 2015 the series has ranged from 25.8% of population to 59.1% of population, so the latest reading sits at the top of its own range. Growth in the last year was slower than the climb that carried the share from its 2015 low.

Why it matters. At 59.1% of population, a little over half of São Tomé and Príncipe's people are online, which gives most households in reach of the network access to messaging, news and mobile payments. Firms can sell and advertise to a majority of customers online, though a sizeable minority remains outside those channels. For the state, a slowing gain means that reaching the remaining users with online services will depend on coverage and affordability in the places still unconnected.