Surfshark’s 5th annual Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL) ranks Nigeria 88th in the world
In the latest iteration of the Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL), a comprehensive annual study by Surfshark, Nigeria finds itself in the 88th position globally, reflecting a slight drop of two places compared to the previous year. This index assesses the digital well-being of 121 countries, examining five core pillars.
Out of these five pillars, Nigeria’s standout performance was in internet quality, securing the 62nd spot. However, the nation faces considerable challenges in terms of internet affordability, ranking 108th. The rankings in the other pillars were as follows: 73rd in e-security, 88th in e-government, and 93rd in e-infrastructure.
It’s noteworthy that Nigeria falls behind both South Africa (72nd) and Kenya (76th) in the overall DQL Index, highlighting areas where improvement is needed in the country’s digital landscape. In the African context, Nigeria claims the seventh position, with South Africa taking the lead.
As digital activities have become an integral part of daily life, Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, Surfshark’s spokeswoman, emphasized the significance of evaluating a nation’s digital quality of life. She stated, “In many nations, ‘digital quality of life’ has merged into the broader concept of overall ‘quality of life.’ There’s no other way to look at it now that so many daily activities, including work, education, and leisure, are done online. That’s why it’s crucial to pinpoint the areas in which a nation’s digital quality of life thrives and where attention is needed, which is the precise purpose of the DQL Index.”
Internet Quality Comparison:
- Fixed internet in Nigeria averages 25 Mbps, with the world’s fastest in Singapore at 300 Mbps and the slowest in Yemen at 11 Mbps.
- Mobile internet in Nigeria averages 47 Mbps, compared to the UAE’s fastest speed at 310 Mbps and Venezuela’s slowest at 10 Mbps.
When compared to South Africa, Nigeria’s mobile internet is 31% slower, and its fixed broadband is 64% slower. Notably, over the past year, Nigeria has seen an 87% improvement in mobile internet speed and a 33% growth in fixed broadband speed.
However, the affordability of the internet in Nigeria is a cause for concern:
- Nigerians need to work 35 hours and 25 minutes a month to afford fixed broadband, which is 119 times more than in Romania, known for the world’s most affordable fixed internet.
- For mobile internet, Nigerians have to work 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 15 seconds a month to afford it, which is 11 times more than in Luxembourg, where mobile internet is the most affordable.
Nigeria’s ranking in e-security has declined, placing 73rd globally, seven places lower than the previous year. This pillar assesses a country’s readiness to combat cybercrime and the strength of its data protection laws. In this aspect, Nigeria lags behind South Africa (72nd) and Kenya (65th), indicating a need for improved cybersecurity measures and stronger data protection legislation.
In e-infrastructure, which measures internet penetration and network readiness, Nigeria is ranked 93rd. While the country boasts moderate internet penetration at 73% (86th globally), it ranks 105th in network readiness.
The e-government pillar evaluates a government’s digital services and AI readiness, and Nigeria falls below the global average in this regard.
Globally, the study notes that the internet has become more affordable, with fixed internet being 11% more affordable than the previous year, and mobile internet being 26% more affordable. This is reflected in the reduced amount of work hours required to afford internet services.
Methodology:
The DQL Index 2023 analyzed 121 nations, representing 92% of the global population, using five core pillars and 14 indicators. The study relied on open-source information from the United Nations, the World Bank, and other reputable sources. This year’s index includes four more countries than the previous year, underscoring Surfshark’s commitment to global representation.
Leave a comment