Kenya has been ranked the world’s top user of ChatGPT,surpassing digital powerhouses like the United States,Japan,and China in a surprising shift in global AI adoption trends.
According to the July 2025 Global Digital Report by DataReportal and Meltwater,a staggering 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above used ChatGPT in the past month — placing the country at the very top globally. The United Arab Emirates (42%) and Israel (41.4%) followed closely behind. The report highlights Kenya’s unique digital momentum,driven by its youthful,mobile-first population. With a median age of 20,the country boasts one of the most tech-savvy youth demographics worldwide. This digitally native generation uses AI tools for everything from academic research and coding to content creation and entrepreneurship.
Tech analyst Moses Kemibaro attributes Kenya’s dominance to three key factors: low-cost mobile internet access,a booming gig economy,and strong adoption among students and professionals alike. “Gen Z and millennials are driving adoption,” said Kemibaro,adding that “professionals use it to clean up emails,generate reports,code,and ideate. It’s become a critical productivity tool.” Kenya also ranks third globally in ChatGPT website traffic,trailing only the U.S. and India. In stark contrast,traditional tech giants lag far behind: United Kingdom (7.9%),Japan (5.8%),China (7.3%),and Russia (10.8%). As Kenya leads the AI revolution in Africa,analysts say its innovative use of tools like ChatGPT signals a broader continental shift toward digitally driven productivity and problem-solving.
United News - unews.co.za