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X page Africa Facts Zone says South Africa has an estimated 1.3 million Netflix subscribers, compared with 162,500 in Nigeria.
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The figures have sparked debate on X, with users questioning the gap between the two countries.
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Some argued that population size does not necessarily mean more people can afford paid streaming services.
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Others pointed to Nollywood’s strong YouTube presence and alternative ways Nigerians access films.
September 04, (THEWILL) — South Africa has the highest number of Netflix subscribers in Africa, with 1.3 million subscribers, while Nigeria ranks second with 162,500, according to figures shared by Africa Facts Zone on Friday.
The figures have sparked debate on X, especially over the wide difference between the two countries. Some users questioned how Nigeria, with its much larger population, could have fewer Netflix subscribers than South Africa.
“Your comparisons are not fair. Compare oranges to oranges”, one user wrote, suggesting that the two countries have different economic situations and spending habits.
Another user pointed to Nigeria’s population of about 230 million, while others argued that having more people does not always mean having more people who can afford paid streaming services.
One South African user argued that Nigeria’s large population does not mean more people can afford a Netflix subscription. Some users also mocked Nigeria over its lower number of subscribers.
Other users took a more nationalistic approach, saying South Africa should not be compared with other African countries.
However, some users offered a different explanation for Nigeria’s figure.
One user pointed out that many Nigerians watch Nollywood films on YouTube through channels run by filmmakers and producers. The user mentioned popular Nigerian movie channels as another way Nigerians watch local films without subscribing to Netflix.
This could be an important part of the discussion because Nigerians have several ways to watch local films outside Netflix. Nollywood has a large audience on YouTube, television, in cinemas and on other streaming platforms.
YouTube, in particular, has become a popular way for Nigerian filmmakers to reach audiences directly. Viewers can watch many local films without having to pay for a monthly Netflix subscription.
Some X users also blamed piracy for Nigeria’s low Netflix numbers. However, the comments do not prove that piracy is responsible for the difference, so it remains part of the online debate.
The debate has now shifted beyond the figures themselves, with users discussing the different ways people in both countries consume entertainment.
For Nigeria, the figures do not tell the full story of how audiences consume movies and television. With Nollywood films available across several platforms, viewers have different options beyond Netflix.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
