In a continent where access to affordable mobile internet is increasingly essential, several African countries now stand out for offering some of the cheapest data rates in 2025.
Below is a ranking of the top ten, from the 10th cheapest to the very cheapest, to illustrate where Africa is doing well and what drives the difference.
Top 10 African Countries with the Cheapest Internet Data in 2025
10. Egypt
Egypt takes the 10th spot with 1 GB costing around US$0.65. It earns this place because it combines relatively mature telecom infrastructure with strong regulatory oversight.
The presence of multiple providers and ongoing government efforts to subsidize or regulate rates help keep data costs lower than many peers.
9. Morocco
Morocco ranks 9th, with average data cost approximately US$0.63 per GB. The country has benefited from steady investment in telecom networks, good 4G coverage, and increasing competition among operators which pushes prices down.
8. Kenya
Kenya is 8th, with average mobile data costing about US$0.59 per GB. Despite geographic challenges in certain rural areas, Kenya’s urban centres are well-served, there are several active providers, and regulatory policies have encouraged competition. Also, high demand due to strong mobile phone penetration has helped scale services.
7. Western Sahara
Western Sahara ranks 7th with data around US$0.58 per GB. Though not as large a market, the few operators serving it seem to offer competitive pricing, perhaps due to lower overhead and less regulatory burden in some cases. Also, fewer layers of bureaucracy can make launching services easier.
6. Rwanda
Rwanda holds 6th position at about US$0.55 per GB. The country has made strong policy decisions and public investment in digital infrastructure, including fiber backbones and mobile networks. It also has relatively small distances in many areas, making network expansion more cost-effective.
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The DRC is 5th, averaging approximately US$0.52 per GB. Although the DRC has massive land area and uneven infrastructure, where there is service competition and demand (in cities, in particular), providers have been forced to keep data prices reasonably low.
Also, many users rely heavily on mobile rather than fixed broadband, which tends to drive focus on mobile data affordability.
4. Somalia
Somalia is 4th, with data roughly US$0.50 per GB. Despite security and political challenges, Somalia has a relatively open telecoms market, with operators competing actively. This competition, plus a relatively young population and strong demand, seems to have kept mobile data costs low.
3. Ghana
Ghana is 3rd, where 1 GB costs about US$0.40. Ghana has benefited from a growing telecom sector, multiple providers, active regulation, and increasing digital literacy. Also efforts by government and regulatory bodies to encourage more affordable data plans have helped.
2. Nigeria
Nigeria takes 2nd place, with average data around US$0.39 per GB. As Africa’s largest population and a major mobile market, Nigeria has high demand, many service providers, fierce competition, and relatively mature infrastructure in many regions. These factors combine to push prices down.
1. Malawi
Malawi is ranked 1st—the country with the cheapest mobile data in Africa in 2025—at about US$0.38 per GB.
It leads because of a mix of very aggressive pricing by operators, regulatory frameworks that encourage low cost data, lower operational costs in certain regions, and possibly lower taxation or import duties on telecoms equipment.
Malawi’s leadership in this metric shows how even less wealthy countries can deliver very affordable internet with the right policy and market conditions.