SL falls behind countries with lower GNI in internet usage: LIRNEasia survey

• India and Nigeria with US $ 1,900 and US $ 2,000 GNI have 47% and 54% of population using internet; SL 44% with US $ 3,270 GNI 
• About 2.2mn households, over 9.2mn individuals are still unconnected in SL; 39% households do not have an active internet connection

 Sri Lanka has witnessed a steady increase in the number of internet users in 2021, when compared with the previous years, due to the push to embrace remote learning and working practices, due to the pandemic; however, it falls behind the countries that have a lower gross national income (GNI) than itself in this regard.

A survey carried out by regional policy think tank LIRNEasia showed that about 44 percent of the population, aged 15 and above, were internet users in 2021 but more work needs to be done in getting the infrastructure right to increase the number further.

Countries such as India and Nigeria, that have a GNI of US $ 1,900 and US $ 2,000, as of 2020, have 47 percent and 54 percent of their population (aged 15 and above) using the internet, whereas Sri Lanka, despite having a GNI of US $ 3,270 only has 44 percent of its population go online.

The national survey revealed that internet use was lower amongst the rural, elderly, less educated and poorer groups. Those residing in rural areas were 19 percent less likely to be online than their peers residing in urban areas, the survey findings showed.

The survey that assessed the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 also showed that while the gender gap in internet usage has contracted to 7 percent to the 34 percent it was four years ago, the urban-rural gap has not bridged as much. The urban-rural gap reduced to 19 percent in 2021, from 2023 percent in 2018, analysis of the survey showed. 

About 2.2 million households and over 9.2 million individuals are still unconnected as 39 percent of the households do not have an active internet connection and 56 percent of the 15+ population are yet to experience the internet, the survey highlighted.