These are the countries with the slowest and most chronically unreliable Wi-Fi internet access, based on each country's average broadband connection speeds, according to SpeedTest.net.
1. Venezuela: 3.31 Mbps
Ah, lovely Venezuela. Caribbean beaches. Angel Falls. Warm, friendly people, and the worst internet you can find.
Not only does it suffer from the slowest broadband speeds in the world, but they are also among the most deficient, and the reason for both is infrastructure. Venezuela is in the midst of an economic, political, and social crisis, and all parts of the country are suffering, including the technology industry. If you go, expect the unexpected and be prepared to yell at your laptop a lot.
2. Libya: 3.81 Mbps
Libya, a war-torn country under a ceasefire since 2020, has much to offer the modern adventurer, such as the ruins of legendary Cyrene and the archaeological site of Leptis Magna. It is also home to a lot of really bad internet access. According to some accounts, Libya's internet is unique in that it has worsened over the last half-decade, not improved.
However, if you are in Libya, you should consider that connectivity problems should be the least of your worries.
3. Algeria: 4.10 Mbps
Another attractive North African country with security issues and chaotic internet. The government restricts or shuts down the internet to fight terrorism and to crack down on students cheating on their exams. For its 8 million internet users, it's an unreliable service. Depending on where you are, internet coverage can range from terrible to truly terrible.
4. Lebanon: 4.51 Mbps
A fascinating country, where the Middle East meets the West and where the ancient meets the most modern, Lebanon's turbulent history (part of which is still ongoing) means it's another country the U.S. State Department wouldn't want you to visit right now.
In terms of connectivity, Lebanon is in a curious situation: it's at the receiving end of new submarine fiber optic cables, which theoretically gives it some of the fastest speeds in the world. However, on land, most of the country's fiber optic network is not yet installed or lit, meaning the quality of your internet access is not guaranteed. Once again, the importance of cabling is everything.
5. Bolivia: 4.81 Mbps
Bolivia is arguably the most impressive country on the list: a vast landscape of high mountains, wide plains, and remote villages that take days to reach. It's a wonderful place to disconnect and digitally detox. Bolivia's state-owned telecommunications company announced plans for a new fiber network that will extend throughout the country. Meanwhile, 4G LTE services can reach up to 100 Mbps in some selected locations, but for the vast majority of places, the average is slow enough to despair (especially if it's a shared connection).
6. Egypt: 5.15 Mbps
Internet has come a long way since the total network shutdowns of 2011: most Egyptians now have access to ADSL, and while it's not fast (most mobile networks are actually faster), it's feasible.
A bigger problem is the recent crackdown on certain websites and publications. Censorship and internet freedom are constant issues, but that happens worldwide.
7. Suriname: 5.23 Mbps
This former Dutch colony in South America guarantees us a warm welcome in every sense. Online access? Not so much.
Less than half of Suriname's population is connected to the internet, so once you leave the cities and head into the rainforest, your internet connection time goes to hell. Console yourself with some of the tastiest fruit juices in all of America.
8. Uzbekistan: 5.30 Mbps
Famous for being part of the epic Silk Road, this Central Asian country and former Soviet republic is impressive. Just don't think about telling anyone until you get home. Broadband is slow, but much more disturbing is the current total blocking of voice over internet protocol services like Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber.
9. Mozambique: 5.51 Mbps
This Portuguese-speaking southern African country is still developing (and is currently one of the poorest in the world), but it has so many beautiful places to offer that tourism is growing rapidly.
Across the country, speeds are not great, but if you're in Maputo, you'll find much faster data rates and plenty of cafes and wireless hotspots to choose from. Overall, not bad.
10. Nicaragua: 5.75 Mbps
Nica is a trendy destination for travelers right now: it's very affordable, full of amazing landscapes, and the internet is... well, it's better to talk about the landscape.
Frequent power outages are still an issue, but Nica is an increasingly attractive prospect for remote workers, though if you need practical speeds of more than 2 Mbps, you'll either need to connect directly to the router via cable, or you'll have a tough time.
11. Honduras: 5.86 Mbps
Honduras is shaking off its reputation as a violent corner of Central America and has a lot to offer. Thanks to the government's Internet for the People initiative, there is free Wi-Fi in most central parks and plazas. Large cities have faster speeds than the national average; elsewhere, speeds are frustratingly lower.
12. Pakistan: 5.95 Mbps
Both Pakistan and neighboring India have suffered severe internet outages or slowdowns. India's (almost) saving grace is that it has fast internet service, averaging 17 Mbps, which Pakistan has yet to reach. Pakistan's internet speed problems can be attributed to one thing: the recent collapse of the submarine cable system. As long as repairs last, the internet will crawl.
13. Your home
No joke. Your home can feel like the worst place to browse the internet if your connection isn't well optimized. The inhabitants of all these countries have one thing in common: their connections are poor, and if they also share the Wi-Fi signal at home, browsing becomes impossible. If you have a weak signal, the best thing to do is optimize the one you receive; by cabling your home connection, you can optimize it a lot and significantly improve the experience.
We leave you with the article: "What internet speed do you need?"
