What country uses the least internet?

North Korea: A Digital Island in an Interconnected Sea

In the era of lightning-fast internet and ubiquitous connectivity, North Korea’s digital landscape stands as an anomaly, an isolated oasis in a globally connected ocean. While the world surfs the waves of digital information, the Hermit Kingdom remains firmly anchored in a technological backwater, its citizens largely cut off from the vast expanse of cyberspace.

The country’s internet penetration rate hovers around a mere 0.06%, making it one of the least connected nations on the planet. This stark isolation is a deliberate policy, a testament to the regime’s iron-fisted control over information.

The government strictly prohibits access to the World Wide Web, fearing the corrosive effects of unfiltered knowledge on its society. Citizens are denied the freedom to explore diverse perspectives, connect with the outside world, or challenge the official narrative.

Instead, North Koreans are confined to a heavily censored intranet known as Kwangmyong, which provides access only to state-approved content. This digital bubble is designed to maintain the regime’s ideological dominance and shield its citizens from potentially subversive influences.

The absence of internet access has profound implications for North Korean society. It limits economic growth, stifles innovation, and undermines education. Citizens are denied access to vital information about healthcare, science, and current events. The digital divide has created a technological apartheid, dividing the nation from the rest of the interconnected world.

This digital isolation also has a chilling effect on human rights. It prevents citizens from freely expressing their views, accessing independent news, or organizing for change. The government’s control over the flow of information has turned North Korea into a digital prison, where citizens are denied the basic freedoms that are taken for granted in most democratic societies.

The contrast between North Korea’s isolated digital landscape and the interconnected world is stark and sobering. It highlights the importance of internet access as a fundamental right and a vital tool for progress and human development. As the rest of the world embraces the digital revolution, North Korea remains mired in a technological dark age, its citizens trapped in a labyrinth of censorship and control.