In 2023, Pakistan’s economy suffered a significant blow due to internet shutdowns, losing over Rs65 billion, which is equivalent to $237.6 million. These shutdowns affected nearly 83 million people across the country. According to the latest data from Statista, a platform known for its data collection and visualization, Pakistan experienced 259 hours of internet downtime throughout the year.
Pakistan’s losses placed it 7th on the global list of countries most affected by the financial impact of internet shutdowns over the past year. Statista, based in Germany, provides both publicly accessible and exclusive data, gathered through surveys and in-depth analysis.India faced the longest internet shutdown duration in 2023, affecting more than 470 billion user hours.
On Statista’s list of countries most affected by the economic consequences of these shutdowns, India ranks 4th.Russia, however, holds the top spot for the highest financial losses due to internet shutdowns in 2023. With over 1,350 hours of internet downtime, Russia’s economy lost $4 billion, and around 113 million users were impacted. India also ranks 4th on this list, with economic losses exceeding Rs161 billion, affecting over 59 million people.
