The growth rate of Facebook active users is dramatic even with the recent uproar on the new Facebook’s term of use. The site now attracts a growth of more than 700,000 users daily and over 5 million weekly. Today, there are almost 200 million users.
If the growth continues at this rate, by the end of 2009 Facebook users will be about 400 million placing it at number 3 most populated if it were a country displacing USA. That will be almost 3 times the population of Nigeria. Two months ago the numbers were at par.
Today, the facebook Ad Utility shows that there are 256,260 Nigerians on the platform. A 12.5% increase since last month but less than the 17% increase seen earlier 2 months ago. The growth is quite significant but not impressive compared with the rate of Facebook’s global growth and considering the fact that Nigeria is world’s number 9 most populated country.
The main reason should arise from the inadequate infrastructure for internet connectivity. Also the large population of the internet users is unaware of the useful services that can be derived from the platform.
A lot of changes has been made recently to improve the site and make it more valuable to its users. The Home Page is re-designed with the News Feed being updated in real time. The Fan pages are also re-designed which looks similar to Profile pages. Fan pages now have status updates as well.
Facebook’s Ads which previously appear on Profile and Application pages now also show on Business pages. This means advertisers can reach more target audience around the platform.
One of the most used Facebook pages in Nigeria is the Group pages. There are live activities going on and new groups are frequently created. The largest Group I have seen so far is “How Many Nigerians Are on the Facebook!!?“ with 28,397 members.
There is still yet any activity in Fecebook Applications development in Nigeria. I have known only Sturvs Facebook Application.
Generally the growth of Facebook in Nigeria is apparent but the platform is still under utilized.
Update: 573,780 Nigerians on Facebook
Note:
If you have been tracking the number of Facebook users using AllFacebook’s Demographic tool, you will observe the recent statistics is not correlating with Facebook’s Ad utility. As of 2nd March it shows 223,119 Nigerian users.
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March 5, 2009 at 7:20 pm
[...] Nigeria and Facebook – Update II [...]
April 2, 2009 at 8:58 pm
[...] Nigeria and Facebook – Update II [...]