Kenya Leads the World in ChatGPT Usage, Beating UAE and Israel
Kenya has officially taken the global lead in ChatGPT usage, with a staggering 42.1% of internet users aged 16 and above actively engaging with the AI tool over the past month. This is according to the July 2025 Global Digital Report released by We Are Social and Meltwater.
Outpacing Tech Giants
The report places Kenya ahead of traditionally tech-forward countries such as the United Arab Emirates (42%), Israel (41.4%), Malaysia (39.8%), and Brazil (39.7%). The findings highlight the country’s growing appetite for artificial intelligence tools, especially among its youthful and digitally connected population.
Read more about technology trends in Kenya.
Global Heavyweights Lag Behind
Surprisingly, major economies such as the United States (19.1%), United Kingdom (17.9%), and Japan (5.8%) recorded far lower usage rates, showing a contrast in global adoption trends.
You may also like: How Kenyan Students Are Using ChatGPT for Schoolwork.
China Turns to Local AI Tools
Meanwhile, in China—where ChatGPT access remains restricted—users are gravitating toward homegrown platforms like Deepseek, which now boasts over 75 million monthly users, according to the report.
What’s Fueling Kenya’s Surge?
Experts attribute Kenya’s impressive numbers to several factors: increased mobile internet penetration, widespread AI curiosity, and the growing use of ChatGPT among students, entrepreneurs, and digital content creators.
This milestone places Kenya firmly on the map as a leader in global AI engagement, defying assumptions about tech adoption in emerging markets.
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