Internet Usage

Percentage of women and men who have ever used the internet, percentage who have used the internet in the past 12 months, and among women and men who have used the internet in the past 12 months, percent distribution by frequency of internet use in the past month

Definition

1)      Percentage of women and men age 15-49 who have ever used the internet.

2)      Percentage of women and men age 15-49 who have used the internet in the past 12 months.

3)      Among women and men age 15-49 who have used the internet in the past 12 months, percent distribution by frequency of internet use in the past month.

Coverage:

Population base: Women and men age 15-49 (IR file, MR file)

Time periods: Lifetime of respondent, 12 months preceding the survey, and month preceding the interview

Numerators:

1)      Number of women (or men) age 15-49 who have ever used the internet (women: v171a in 1:3; men: mv171a in 1:3)

2)      Number of women age (or men) 15-49 who have used the internet in the past 12 months (women: v171a = 1; men: mv171a = 1)

3)      Among women (or men) age 15-49 who have used the internet in the past 12 months (women: v171a = 1; men: mv171a = 1), number of women by frequency of internet use in the month preceding the survey:

a)       Almost every day (women: v171b = 3; men: mv171b = 3)

b)      At least once a week (women: v171b = 2; men: mv171b = 2)

c)       Less than once a week (women: v171b = 1; men: mv171b = 1)

d)      Not in the past month (women: v171b = 0; men: mv171b = 0)

Denominator: Number of women (or men) age 15-49

Variables: IR file, MR file.

Calculation

Numerator divided by denominator, multiplied by 100.

Handling of Missing Values

Missing data and “don’t know” responses for use of the internet and when are treated as not having used the internet and not in the preceding 12 months. Missing data and “Don’t know” responses on frequency of use in the month preceding the survey are presented in a separate category in the percent distribution.

Notes and Considerations

This indicator may be used to report on SDG Indicator 17.8.1: Proportion of individuals using the Internet. Note that this indicator is not available for all ages and that the time period used is 12 months preceding the interview, not 3 months.

Percent distribution adds up to 100 percent.

Changes over Time

DHS-VI and earlier surveys did not collect data on internet use.

Resources

DHS-8 Tabulation plan: Tables 3.5.1 and 3.5.2

API Indicator IDs:

Women:

CO_INUS_W_EVU, CO_INUS_W_U12, CO_INUS_W_DAY, CO_INUS_W_WEK, CO_INUS_W_LES, CO_INUS_W_NON

(API link, STATcompiler link)

Men:

CO_INUS_M_EVU, CO_INUS_M_U12, CO_INUS_M_DAY, CO_INUS_M_WEK, CO_INUS_M_LES, CO_INUS_M_NON
(API link, STATcompiler link)

SDG Indicator 17.8.1: Proportion of individuals using the Internet

MICS6 Indicator SR.12: Use of Internet

Note that this indicator is not available for all ages and that the time period used in DHS is 12 months preceding the interview, not 3 months.