Pakistan’s economy suffered a significant blow in 2023 due to internet shutdowns, with losses exceeding Rs65 billion. According to Statista, a German online platform specializing in data gathering and visualization, these disruptions cost Pakistan $237.6 million, impacting nearly 83 million people. The total duration of these shutdowns amounted to 259 hours.
Globally, Pakistan ranks seventh among the countries most affected by internet shutdowns in terms of monetary losses. Statista’s data highlights the widespread impact of these disruptions on Pakistan’s digital landscape and economy.
India, which frequently imposes internet shutdowns, tops the list for the longest duration of internet outages in 2023, with over 470 billion user hours affected. However, in terms of economic losses, Russia leads, with over $4 billion in damages due to more than 1,350 hours of internet blockades, impacting 113 million users.
India ranks fourth on the list of countries most affected by internet shutdowns in monetary terms, with losses surpassing Rs161 billion, affecting over 59 million people. The Statista report notes that in India, shutdowns often occur during protests, exams, or in regions like Kashmir and Rajasthan.
Ethiopia ranks second globally in terms of economic losses from internet shutdowns, with nearly $1.6 billion in damages. Iran follows with a loss of nearly $1 billion, while Turkey, also affected, incurred a $5.8 million loss, impacting more than 70 million users.
The list of 25 countries most impacted by internet shutdowns in 2023 includes Russia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Iran, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Algeria, Senegal, and others, with Suriname ranking last.
Myanmar ranks second for the longest duration of internet shutdowns in 2023, followed by Ethiopia and Iran.
In terms of internet freedom, Iceland ranks highest with a score of 94 out of 100, followed by Estonia and Canada. The United States, Germany, Japan, France, Australia, the UK, Italy, South Korea, Kenya, and South Africa also feature among the top 20 countries with the highest internet freedom index scores.
Regionally, Asia experienced the most internet disruptions since 2019, accounting for over 50% of global cases. Africa, once the leading region for internet disruptions from 2015 to 2019, now ranks second.
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