Namibia climbs global digital rankings
Improved connectivity score
Namibia has made impressive progress in digital development, according to the 2025 ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) this July. The index measures Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC) across 164 countries, based on factors such as affordability, internet use, digital skills and network quality.The latest score, though published in 2025, is based on 2023 data submitted by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN). Namibia’s IDI score rose to 73.2%, a 6% increase from 68% in 2023. This reflects notable improvements in both internet access and quality of connectivity.
Namibia scored 63.0% for Universal Connectivity (internet use and adoption) and 83.5% for Meaningful Connectivity (infrastructure and network rollout). Both are well above the African averages of 47% and 65% respectively.
“We are pleased with this increase, as it aligns with our strategic goals and the oversight of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology,” said CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua.
Regionally, Namibia outperformed several of its peers. Compared to Malawi (35.4%), Zimbabwe (56.8%), Zambia (60.3%), and Mozambique (32.4%), Namibia ranked higher. Top performers in the region were Mauritius (86.3%), South Africa (85.0%), and Botswana (82.1%).
CRAN noted that although Namibia was still classified as an upper middle-income economy in the data, the strong performance underscores how strategic investments can drive digital progress, even in emerging economies.
The ITU’s findings also highlighted Namibia’s progress in digital safety. The country’s Global Cybersecurity Index score improved from 11.47 in 2020 to 36.93 in 2024.
“This shows that Namibia’s telecom landscape is not just expanding, but becoming more inclusive and secure,” Nghikembua added. “Our focus remains on increasing mobile broadband coverage, discontinuing outdated technologies, and ensuring that no one is left behind.”
With continued investment and collaboration, Namibia is well-positioned to build a more inclusive and digitally empowered economy.