What Happened: In 2023, Pakistan lost over Rs65 billion due to internet shutdowns, ranking 7th globally, with significant economic impacts reported across several countries.
What Happened: In 2023, internet shutdowns cost Pakistan’s economy over Rs65 billion ($237.6 million) and affected 83 million people during 259 hours of disruptions, according to Statista. Pakistan ranked 7th globally in economic losses from internet shutdowns, while India topped the list for the longest duration of shutdowns, blocking access for over 470 billion user hours.
More: Russia faced the highest monetary loss, over $4 billion, due to 1,350 hours of internet restrictions affecting 113 million users. Other heavily impacted countries include Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Iran. Meanwhile, Iceland, Estonia, and Canada lead in internet freedom scores.
Also: Regionally, Asia had the most disruptions post-2019, followed by Africa. Globally, 25 countries faced major internet shutdowns, with Russia, Ethiopia, and Myanmar among the hardest hit.