With technological advancements worldwide, internet penetration is increasing from region to region.
However, some countries have a stronger online presence due to factors such as cheaper data, more advanced infrastructure, super-fast internet speeds, good internet penetration, and strong economic status.
The Social Media Engagement Index (SME Index) segments audiences based on detailed profiles of social media users including demographics, behavior, attitudes, and usage.
Using data from around 45 countries, the index measures consumers’ social media participation with a score on how often they create or upload content, such as rating products, and how much they engage with brands through these platforms, with particular interest in branding brands or uploading content to brand sites.
These 10 countries in the table were listed as countries with the highest social media engagement index using the above methodology:
| S/N | Country | SME Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 97.9 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 89.3 |
| 3 | United States | 76.3 |
| 4 | India | 75.6 |
| 5 | Indonesia, | 68.9 |
| 6 | South Africa | 65.8 |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 63.8 |
| 8 | Chile | 62.3 |
| 9 | Mexico | 61 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 59.9 |
China came in first with a score of 97.9, a result fuelled by the country’s huge user base. The list also includes other Asian countries with deep and strong internet and mobile penetration in the region.
According to Datareportal, there will be 5.68 billion unique mobile phone users worldwide at the end of June 2024, meaning that roughly 70% of the world’s population has access to and owns a mobile phone.
This is in stark contrast to the number of internet users in 2000 (just 361 million), indicating rapid growth in internet usage across the globe.
While many countries have growing populations, and therefore a corresponding increase in the number of internet users, the rise in internet usage in Africa is expected to improve online accessibility and connectivity for its citizens.