5 African Countries That Lost The Most Money To Internet Shutdowns In 2019

From Ethiopia in East Africa to Chad in the northern part of the continent, internet shutdown did more than shake the tech space of Africa in 2019.

Possibly all cardinal points of the continent has their fair share of web bans, most of which are executed by African governments for political reasons. 

According to a new report titled The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns In 2019, Sub-Saharan Africa forewent USD 2.16 Bn due to the 7,800-hour effects of internet shutdowns. 

The survey, carried out by Top10VPN, analyzes every major internet shutdown around the world last year.  It reveals that the growing trend cost the global economy over USD 8 Bn in 2019. 

In terms of individual regions, the Middle East and North Africa took the biggest economic hit from internet shutdowns in 2019, with costs exceeding USD 3.135 Bn incurred over 577 hours. 

While Iraq bled the most (USD 2,319.5 Mn), Sudan, whose internet shut down was cumulatively for 1,560 hours, is the African country to lose the most, with USD 1,866.3 Mn. The country is second in the world, after Iraq. 

Algeria comes in 6th place on the ranking, as 50 hours of ban cost the country USD 199.8 Mn. 

Chad, in 8th place, lost USD 83.9 Mn to 4,728 hours of barred web access. The North African country’s hours is second only to that of Myanmar – Rakhine, Chin who did 4,880 hours. 

Ethiopia (12th), Zimbabwe (13th) and Mauritania (14th) lost USD 56.8 Mn, USD 34.5 Mn and USD 13.8 Mn respectively. 

Egypt, Benin Republic, Gabon, Eritrea and Liberia finish off the ‘African’ list. 

Featured Image: CNBC