Which Countries Have the Slowest Internet Speeds in the World? 

Looking for which countries have the slowest internet in 2025? This guide explains the slowest nations, typical speeds, why they lag, and what’s being done — with up-to-date sources and practical tips for readers and publishers.

Internet speed matters. It drives education, jobs, e-commerce, health services and daily life. While some countries enjoy multi-hundred Mbps fiber networks, others still see single-digit megabits per second (Mbps). This article lists the countries that consistently rank among the slowest globally, explains root causes, and gives actionable context for readers, businesses, and content creators. (Sources used throughout.)

Countries that frequently appear among the slowest (and typical speeds)

Recent global speed surveys and league tables identify a set of countries that repeatedly sit at the bottom of fixed-broadband and mobile speed rankings. These include:

• Turkmenistan — frequently reported with extremely low median fixed speeds (often just a few Mbps).

• Tajikistan — regularly in the lowest group with single-digit to low-double-digit Mbps average speeds.

• Afghanistan — chronic infrastructure and conflict issues leave speeds very low in most measurements. Recent service disruptions have made the situation worse in places.

• Yemen and Sudan — conflict, under-investment and damaged infrastructure push speeds down into low Mbps ranges in many reports.

• Cuba, Haiti, East Timor (Timor-Leste) and parts of Venezuela, Bolivia — these countries also appear among the slowest in multiple 2024–2025 compilations.

Typical numbers reported for the slowest countries often range from ~2–12 Mbps for median fixed broadband in the data sets referenced — far below the global medians that are commonly tens or hundreds of Mbps.

Why some countries are so slow — the main factors

1. Infrastructure & geography. Fiber and modern backbone networks are expensive; in mountainous or sparsely populated regions the cost per user is very high. Countries with limited fiber rollout often rely on older copper lines or satellite links that restrict throughput. 

2. Political instability & conflict. War, civil unrest, or government restrictions can physically damage networks, block or throttle services, or discourage investment — all decreasing user speeds and reliability. Recent blackouts and shutdowns (different countries, different causes) show how political decisions can instantly worsen measured speeds.

3. Economic constraints & low investment. Low GDP per capita and limited telecom investment mean operators cannot upgrade networks; competition may be weak, and prices relative to income remain high. This leads to slower, less affordable service.

4. Regulatory and market structure. State monopolies, heavy taxation on telecom gear, or regulatory barriers to new entrants slow upgrades and keep quality low. Some countries also favor domestic service providers or block foreign tools (which can affect how speed is tested and reported).

5. Measurement caveats. Speed indices rely on tests from users who choose to run them. In countries where testing tools are blocked or unpopular, datasets can be sparse, biased, or affected by national app blocks — meaning official league positions sometimes under- or over-represent real experiences.

Notable examples (short profiles)

Turkmenistan

Often ranked among the slowest in worldwide speed league tables. Its remote location, limited competition and state control of telecommunications contribute to extremely limited speeds for many users.

Tajikistan

An inland, mountainous country with lower network penetration and expensive build costs. Reports show low median speeds in league tables and regional analyses.

Afghanistan

Besides years of conflict, localized government restrictions and recent communications blackouts have left a fragile connectivity landscape; measured speeds are low where networks function. Humanitarian and economic impacts are substantial.

Cuba & Haiti

Both face economic and regulatory challenges that limit fiber rollout and modern mobile infrastructure. They often appear in datasets among the slower nations for both fixed and mobile categories.

The human & economic cost of slow internet

Slow internet is not just an annoyance — it has measurable social and economic impacts:

• Education suffers when students cannot reliably stream classes or download materials.

• Healthcare (telemedicine) is limited by low bandwidth and unreliable links.

• Businesses & freelancers can’t compete globally if upload/download speeds or latency are poor.

• Digital inequality grows: urban elites with better access enjoy opportunities denied to rural or low-income users.

These outcomes are commonly observed in regions with low infrastructure investment and are highlighted by both independent studies and policy analyses.

What’s being done — efforts to improve speeds

1. International investment & aid projects. Some countries receive financing or public-private partnerships to lay fiber backbones.

2. Satellite internet (LEO constellations). Emerging satellite services can leapfrog last-mile constraints, though latency, cost and capacity vary.

3. Regulatory reform & competition. Opening markets to new providers and lowering barriers to entry can accelerate upgrades.

4. Local initiatives. Community networks, municipal fiber projects and NGO programs can improve access at smaller scales.

Progress is uneven: while some nations are rapidly upgrading, others remain constrained by conflict, policy barriers, or limited funds.

How readers and businesses should use these rankings

• For travelers or remote workers: check local mobile/fixed speed reports before relying on cloud services; consider a backup (local SIM or portable satellite hotspot) in countries with historically low speeds.

• For content creators/SEO managers: when creating region-targeted content, recognize that users in low-speed countries may need lightweight pages, compressed images, and low-bitrate video options. Optimizing for low bandwidth improves accessibility and ranking.

• For investors & NGOs: use speed rankings plus local policy context to identify where infrastructure projects can produce high social value.

Countries at the bottom of global speed rankings share common problems — underinvestment, geographic and economic barriers, conflict, and regulatory limits. While international investment, policy reform, community networks, and new satellite services are making gains, the digital divide remains significant. For readers, businesses and creators, the best approach is to use current speed data, optimize digital services for low-bandwidth users, and support sustainable infrastructure efforts where possible.