Kenya is the number one country in the world when it comes to using ChatGPT, according to a new report by Datareportal. The stats show that 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above had used ChatGPT in the last month—either on the app or website—making Kenya the global leader in this category.
UAE is second (42%) and Israel is third (41.4%) as the world gets hungrier for AI tools.
Why Are Kenyans Using ChatGPT So Much?
It’s part of a bigger trend. Kenyans are increasingly going digital to simplify daily tasks—whether writing, coding, learning or translation. ChatGPT developed by OpenAI and backed by Microsoft has become a go-to tool for everything from content creation to helping with schoolwork and business planning.
This isn’t happening in isolation. Just a few months ago, a report showed that Kenyans spend the most time on social media globally, 3 hours and 43 minutes a day—way above the global average of 2 hours and 23 minutes.
AI Adoption Across Africa and Beyond
Among African countries, South Africa ranked 8th globally, 34.3% of its internet users said they had used ChatGPT recently. Egypt and Nigeria also made it to the top 20, 18th and 19th respectively.
On the other hand, some of the world’s biggest economies are far behind. Countries like Japan (5.8%), China (7.3%) and Russia (10.8%) are at the bottom of the list—despite having advanced tech industries.
Global AI Surge
Across the board, AI chatbots like ChatGPT are growing fast. A 2023 report by Microsoft and LinkedIn found that global use of generative AI tools had nearly doubled in six months, 75% of knowledge workers are using AI in their workflows.
The trend is also reflected in mobile usage. Last year, AI-powered apps saw the highest growth in downloads and consumer spending, according to mobile analytics firms tracking the post-pandemic digital boom.
What Does This Say About Kenya’s Digital Culture
Kenya’s number one spot means more than just curiosity—it means AI is becoming part of daily life especially among the younger, techy crowd. From university students to entrepreneurs, more Kenyans are using generative AI to save time, be more productive and stay ahead in the digital economy.