Internet Stats (MENA Region & Lebanon)

Introduction

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region experienced a fast digital transformation during the last two decades. Mobile connectivity has propelled the region toward increased internet adoption, yet the region faces ongoing obstacles regarding affordability, network development, and usage gaps. Lebanon demonstrates one of the highest internet adoption rate in the region, although its network speed and performance standards fall short compared to worldwide benchmarks. This article presents information on adoption, usage, and internet speed statistics for MENA and Lebanon, with data current as of 2025.

Internet Adoption and Usage in the MENA Region

About 70.2% of people in the Arab world had internet access as of early 2025 [24]. Nearly 327 million people, or 49% of the region's population, had mobile internet subscriptions by the end of 2023 [25], demonstrating that mobile internet is still a major factor in this growth. Although most people in MENA live within range of a mobile broadband network, there is a sizable usage gap, which means that not everyone chooses to subscribe, despite the region's high coverage levels. People in MENA are becoming more interested in entertainment, convenience, and seamless connectivity, as evidenced by the notable growth in online gaming, e-commerce, digital payments, and video streaming [26].

The high rate of internet adoption in Lebanon makes it unique among MENA countries. With an estimated 5.34 million people, or 91.6% of the population, online as of early 2025, the nation was significantly above the regional average. Social media usage is also considerably high, with approximately 4.02 million accounts, which constitutes around 68.9% of the population. The number of internet users in Lebanon increased by 59 thousand (+1.1%) between January 2024 and January 2025, while the overall adoption rate increased by a modest 0.4%, according to digital research and analytics company Kepios [27]. The high adoption rate is indicative of Lebanon's technologically engaged population; although issues like inadequate infrastructure, economic instability, and unequal access to devices still affect usage as a whole. At the beginning of 2025, about 491 thousand people, or 8.4% of the population, were still offline despite the widespread connectivity [27].

Internet Speeds in the Mena Region

Internet speeds in the MENA regions varies considerably, generally due to differing amounts of infrastructure and investment on the part of governments. The GCC countries tend to have the greatest speeds across both mobile and fixed-line. In 2024, for example, Qatar had the highest average mobile download speed in the world, while the UAE was in second place among all countries globally, and both are generally in the highest category of mobile connectivity across the globe [28]. Fixed-line broadband speeds also tend to be higher in cities with advanced infrastructure; fixed-line data connections can usually deliver faster and more stable Internet than mobile broadband connections. Outside of the more developed markets of Qatar and the UAE, mobile and fixed-line speeds are generally lower, but most markets have ongoing initiatives to upgrade their networks which should support faster connections, with improvements in mobile broadband speeds anticipated with 4G and early 5G technology rollouts.

Lebanon's average internet speeds have an uneven profile. In terms of mobile broadband, 3G, 4G, and early 5G networks account for 97.6% of the total connections, with median mobile download speeds reaching approximately 30.20 Mbps by early 2025. Fixed broadband average internet speed is 12.78 Mbps but increased by 36.1% from the previous year; these figures indicate continuous improvements to the infrastructure [27]. While, for the most part, the public is accessing everyday systems via mobile connections, it is common for fixed network connections to offer higher internet speeds in well-served areas. The preceding facts highlight the Lebanese reliance on mobile networks, and the likelihood that fixed networks will improve their ability to deliver faster and more reliable internet speeds.

Internet Statistics in MENA and Lebanon

The following tables compare regional averages with selected MENA countries, and then provide more detailed internet statistics for Lebanon.

Conclusion

Overall, the MENA region shows strong progress in internet adoption, driven largely by mobile connectivity, but disparities in infrastructure and speed remain between advanced and emerging markets. Lebanon reflects both the opportunities and challenges of the region, with high adoption rates but continuing struggles in delivering consistently fast and reliable internet access.