Antigua and Barbuda recorded an internet usage rate of 72.7% in 2024, placing it below several regional neighbours despite its high-income classification, according to Antigua News Room, citing data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Across CARICOM, internet usage ranges from a high of 92.5% in The Bahamas to a low of 47.9% in Haiti, based on 2024 ITU estimates. The ITU defines an internet user as any individual who accessed the internet from any location, on any device, at least once within the past three months — a relatively low threshold. The global average stands at 73.6%, meaning Antigua and Barbuda sits just below the worldwide benchmark.
As reported by Antigua News Room, the regional distribution holds notable surprises. Guyana, at 83.0%, and Belize, at 80.0% — both classified as upper-middle-income economies by the World Bank — record higher usage rates than Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, which registers 70.4%, despite both Caribbean islands carrying high-income designations. Most CARICOM member states cluster between 68% and 83%.
Experts point to several factors that determine how infrastructure access translates into actual internet use across the region. Data affordability, the reach of telecommunications infrastructure, age demographics, and the level of market competition all play significant roles in shaping connectivity outcomes for Caribbean populations.
