Which European countries have the slowest internet in 2025 

Discover which European countries recorded the slowest internet speeds in 2025, why speeds lag behind regional peers, and practical steps governments, ISPs and users can take to close the gap.

Internet speed in Europe in 2025 remained uneven: a handful of countries enjoy world-class fixed and mobile connections, while others still struggle with low median speeds that limit streaming, remote work and business growth. Below you’ll find a clear, SEO-friendly explanation of which European countries had the slowest internet in 2025, the main causes, and realistic remedies. This piece is written to be original, actionable, and optimized for search queries like “slowest internet in Europe 2025”, “which countries have the slowest internet 2025”, and “Europe slow internet list 2025”.

Quick list — slowest European countries in 2025 (by median fixed broadband / representative values)

Based on public 2025 country-by-country speed summaries and regional reports, the countries that consistently appeared at the bottom of European fixed-broadband and mobile speed rankings were:

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina — among the lowest median fixed and mobile download speeds in Europe.

2. Georgia — recorded low fixed broadband medians compared with Western Europe.

3. North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia) — one of the lower median fixed broadband speeds in the region.

4. Belarus — low-to-mid single-digit relative rankings in some 2025 speed snapshots.

5. Ukraine — uneven national figures in 2025 with many areas still below European averages.

6. Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina (reiterated) — both show slower-than-average fixed broadband compared to EU and Western European levels.

7. Kosovo and Serbia — lower median speeds than many EU neighbours, especially outside major cities.

Note: rankings shift month-to-month depending on the index (Ookla/Speedtest, national regulators, OECD analyses). Regional reports and the OECD’s 2025 connectivity review highlight persistent speed gaps across several Eastern and South-Eastern European countries.

Why these countries appear among the slowest 

1. Infrastructure legacy and low fiber coverage. Many of the slower countries still rely heavily on older DSL networks or a mix of copper and limited coax; full-fibre (FTTP) coverage remains low compared with Western Europe. Lower fibre penetration directly reduces median fixed speeds.

2. Rural/urban divide and mountainous geography. Countries with dispersed populations or challenging terrain face higher per-household costs to roll out fibre; that keeps medians low because many users stay on slower last-mile technologies.

3. Investment and market structure. Limited competition, smaller markets, and regulatory friction slow private investment. Where subsidies or EU funds aren’t fully deployed, upgrades lag.

4. Conflict and political disruption. War or instability (notably in parts of Ukraine in the years around 2022–2024) damaged infrastructure or diverted investment and rebuilding resources, lowering averages in affected regions.

5. Data-collection differences. Not every global index samples equally in every country; small-sample anomalies and differing methodologies can exaggerate or understate a country’s true experience in any single study. Use multiple sources to form a stable view.

How the numbers matter — real impacts on people and business

• Education & telehealth: Lower median speeds limit the quality of video calls, remote learning and online consultations.

• Small business & exports: Digital businesses face higher operating costs and slower cloud services, reducing competitiveness.

• Investment attraction: International companies often prefer locations with reliable, fast networks; poor speeds can deter FDI.

• Digital inclusion: Slower national medians often hide pockets of near-no connectivity, creating social and economic exclusion. (OECD analysis 2025 identifies these exact divides.

Practical steps that close the gap (what policymakers, ISPs and users can do)

For governments and regulators

• Targeted public–private partnerships to fund rural fibre rollouts; use competitive subsidy auctions to avoid overpaying and to bring in experienced operators.

• Simplify planning permissions and right-of-way rules to speed fibre deployment.

For ISPs

• Prioritize hybrid approaches: combine fibre backbone with low-cost fixed wireless where trenching is prohibitive.

• Offer affordable entry-level fibre plans and transparent speed commitments — customers need realistic expectations and compensation when speeds fall short.

For consumers and businesses

• Where fibre isn’t available, consider fixed wireless or satellite solutions (modern LEO satellite services) as interim fixes.

• Use network diagnostics and home setup improvements (modern Wi-Fi routers, proper placement, Ethernet for critical devices) to get the best from available bandwidth.

To produce a reliable view for 2025 I compared: (a) Europe-focused speed rankings and country tables published in 2025, (b) the OECD’s 2025 connectivity review which highlights country-by-country differences, and (c) the EU Digital Decade / broadband coverage monitoring for 2024–2025. Those sources consistently show the same regional pattern: countries in the Western Balkans, parts of the Caucasus and some Eastern European countries recorded the lowest medians in 2025. For representative published numbers and country examples see the regional speed report and OECD review. 

FAQ

Q: Is my country among the slowest if it’s not listed above?
A: Not necessarily. Monthly rankings change; a country not in the short list may still have regions with slow speeds. Use national regulator data and multiple speed indexes for a complete picture.

Q: Are mobile and fixed speeds the same story?
A: Not always. Some countries have slow fixed broadband but decent mobile speed due to rapid 4G/5G rollout; others show the opposite. Look at both fixed and mobile indices before concluding.

Q: How fast is “good” in 2025?
A: By 2025 expectations, median fixed broadband above 100–150 Mbps is common in many Western European countries; medians below ~50–60 Mbps are considered slow relative to the regional average.