Photo: Damien du Toit · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
South Africa: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
South Africa is placed 61st of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.623 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 53.94 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
61st
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.623GovTech Maturity Index, 2025GTMI score (0–1)
- 53.94Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 0.517Government Cyber Security Capacity, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
- 52.92Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, 2024Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place South Africa on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.623
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
South Africa: 0.623. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.623 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Botswana 0.469 · Lesotho 0.343 · Mozambique 0.393 · Namibia 0.363 · Eswatini 0.459 · Zimbabwe 0.452
53.94
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 65th of 195 by Oxford Insights
South Africa: 53.94. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Southern Africa
- 53.94 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Botswana 37.1 · Lesotho 28.95 · Mozambique 22.31 · Namibia 37.08 · Eswatini 27.7 · Zimbabwe 29.53
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.517
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
South Africa: 0.517. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.517 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Botswana -0.101 · Lesotho -0.696 · Mozambique -0.566 · Namibia -0.469 · Eswatini -0.196 · Zimbabwe 0.095
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
52.92
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
South Africa: 52.92. Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Southern Africa
- 52.92 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- Lesotho 6.57 · Mozambique 2.518 · Namibia 25.86 · Zimbabwe 5.438
02Over time
Which way South Africa is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
South AfricaWorld median
South Africa rose from 48.25 in 2020 to 53.94 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year South Africa World median 2025 53.9 40.2 2024 52.9 43.3 2023 47.3 41.4 2022 47.7 40.3 2021 48.2 44.1 2020 48.3 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
South AfricaWorld median
South Africa rose from 0.056 in 2000 to 0.517 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year South Africa World median 2025 0.5 0.20 2024 0.2 0.11 2023 0.2 0.14 2022 0.2 0.16 2021 0.2 0.12 2020 0.2 0.12 2019 0.2 0.10 2018 0.2 -0.05 2017 0.2 -0.08 2016 0.2 -0.10 2015 0.2 -0.17 2014 0.2 -0.21 2013 0.2 -0.21 2012 0.2 -0.25 2011 0.2 -0.32 2010 0.2 -0.31 2009 0.1 -0.50 2008 0.1 -0.51 2007 0.1 -0.51 2006 0.1 -0.55 2005 0.1 -0.55 2004 0.1 -0.55 2003 0.1 -0.55 2002 0.1 -0.51 2001 0.1 -0.51 2000 0.1 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
South AfricaWorld median
South Africa rose from 23.77 in 2010 to 52.92 in 2024; the world median went from 19.88 to 25.42.
Every year’s figures
Year South Africa World median 2024 52.9 25.42 2023 53.0 26.03 2022 54.8 26.04 2021 69.7 29.80 2020 58.3 29.47 2019 35.0 18.36 2018 36.1 20.09 2017 34.1 18.32 2016 33.6 18.15 2015 31.9 19.57 2014 29.2 21.00 2013 28.2 20.50 2012 26.9 19.56 2011 26.3 19.21 2010 23.8 19.88
03In context
South Africa beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
South Africa and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 61st | 0.623 | 53.94 | 0.517 | 52.92 |
 Botswana | =109th | 0.469 | 37.1 | -0.101 | — |
 Namibia | =117th | 0.363 | 37.08 | -0.469 | 25.86 |
 Eswatini | 129th | 0.459 | 27.7 | -0.196 | — |
 Zimbabwe | 138th | 0.452 | 29.53 | 0.095 | 5.438 |
 Lesotho | 158th | 0.343 | 28.95 | -0.696 | 6.57 |
 Mozambique | 165th | 0.393 | 22.31 | -0.566 | 2.518 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- South Africa61st
- Botswana=109th
- Namibia=117th
- Eswatini129th
- Lesotho158th
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below South Africa in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where South Africa is ahead of the world, and behind
17 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which South Africa does better than the middle country measured.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5051.7940.505▲ Improved since 2015
South Africa: 1.794 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 29th of 176 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1141.062-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
South Africa: 1.062 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 176 · derived.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3979.662.39No earlier reading
South Africa: 79.6 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 45th of 181 · derived.
Made or Received a Digital PaymentWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 51.6567.1751.65▲ Improved since 2014
South Africa: 67.17 · world median 51.65 · Adults who made or received a digital payment in the past year (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 12.26 to 94.91; higher is better.
Position 26th of 98 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.6460.485No real change since 2013
South Africa: 0.646 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 170 · derived.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.4523.915.45No real change since 2025
South Africa: 23.9 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0231.3511.023▲ Improved since 2015
South Africa: 1.351 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 69th of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which South Africa does worse than the middle country measured.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9750.890.975▼ Worsened since 2014
South Africa: 0.89 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 119 · derived.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7867.5178.78No earlier reading
South Africa: 67.51 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 90th of 140 · derived.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6886.9791.68No earlier reading
South Africa: 86.97 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 95th of 140 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0568.3183.05No earlier reading
South Africa: 68.31 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 100th of 140 · derived.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.3020.206▲ Improved since 2015
South Africa: 0.302 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 36th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,6701,058,99784,670Moved since 2020
South Africa: 1,058,997 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,4541,826,066141,454Moved since 2020
South Africa: 1,826,066 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,7141,118,816148,714Moved since 2020
South Africa: 1,118,816 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
Anthropic AI Usage IndexAnthropic · 2026 · world median 0.960.460.96No earlier reading
South Africa: 0.46 · world median 0.96 · Claude usage index (1 = in proportion to working-age population). Anthropic, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 6.4.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6013.3675.601Moved since 2014
South Africa: 3.367 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
No current reading for South Africa
Firms Experiencing Internet Disruptions, ICT Services Exports, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching and Share of Firms' Payments Made Electronically. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among South Africa’s 15 topics
Digital & Technology is South Africa’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality40th of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade39th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 54th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology61st of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties65th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 72nd of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 77th of 1844/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 102nd of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation101st of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital116th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 134th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 148th of 2004/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience152nd of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality145th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability172nd of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders South Africa can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1
South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Mauritius20th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
South Africa61st4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
South Africa on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does South Africa rank on digital & technology?
South Africa is placed 61st of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Cyber Security Capacity and Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for South Africa?
0.623 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for South Africa?
53.94 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How does South Africa compare with Mozambique on digital & technology?
Mozambique is placed 165th of 198, and South Africa 61st. GovTech Maturity Index: Mozambique 0.393, South Africa 0.623; Government AI Readiness Index: Mozambique 22.31, South Africa 53.94; Government Cyber Security Capacity: Mozambique -0.566, South Africa 0.517; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports: Mozambique 2.518, South Africa 52.92.
How have South Africa’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index rose from 48.25 in 2020 to 53.94 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from 0.056 in 2000 to 0.517 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 23.77 in 2010 to 52.92 in 2024.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for South Africa?
No current reading is published for South Africa on Firms Experiencing Internet Disruptions, ICT Services Exports, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching and Share of Firms' Payments Made Electronically. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 17 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
South Africa’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- South Africa (banner) — Damien du Toit, CC BY 2.0
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). South Africa: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/south-africa/digital