Under-Connected Populations Index (UCI)

48M

No coverage

227M

Limited data use

Countries by UCI Score

Methodology

UCI = w1×InfraGap + w2×AffordGap + w3×DeviceGap + w4×UsageGap

InfraGap: % without 3G+ coverage

AffordGap: Cost of 1GB / monthly income (vs 2% ITU benchmark)

DeviceGap: 1 - unique mobile subscriber penetration

UsageGap: Coverage-usage gap + prepaid dominance proxy

Underconnected = people in covered areas who can't afford regular data or are prepaid-limited

Sources: ITU, GSMA, World Bank, ECLAC (2023-2025)

Infrastructure: 20% Affordability: 30% Device Access: 20% Usage/Behavioral: 30%

Total: 100%

Critical (50+)

High (35-50)

Medium (25-35)

Low (15-25)

Very Low (<15)

Bubble size = population
Squares = subnational data

Under-Connected Populations Index (UCI) [beta]