Spam, or unsolicited commercial email, has been around since the early days of the internet. While many countries have laws regulating spam, some places seem more plagued by junk messages than others. So where in the world is spam most prevalent? Let’s take a look at the global spam landscape.
What is spam?
Spam refers to electronic messages sent out en masse by both legitimate businesses and scammers. The term comes from a Monty Python sketch in which the word “spam” is repeated over and over. Spam often contains misleading subject lines and content in an attempt to get recipients to open messages and click on links. Common spam messages advertise products, ask for donations, or try to steal personal information.
How widespread is the spam problem?
Globally, spam remains a major nuisance. According to one 2021 report, spam makes up roughly 45% of all email sent worldwide. The amount of spam circulating tends to fluctuate year to year, but it poses a persistent threat. Security firms block billions of spam messages per day.
Spam wastes productivity as workers must sift through junk emails. It also facilitates email fraud, spreading phishing scams and malware. However, filters and anti-spam laws have made some dents in curbing the most abusive spam practices.
Which countries send the most spam?
The United States continues to be the top spam-producing country, accounting for about 23% of the world’s spam. This high spam volume is largely thanks to the huge population of internet users in the U.S. Other leading sources of spam include:
| Country | Percentage of Global Spam |
| United States | 23% |
| Russia | 7% |
| Brazil | 6% |
| India | 4% |
| Vietnam | 3.5% |
Russia, Brazil, India, and Vietnam have emerged as major players in the spam landscape. Loosely regulated internet infrastructure and thriving cybercrime communities drive spam volumes from these countries.
Which countries receive the most spam?
While the U.S. generates much of the world’s spam, other nations receive an even bigger deluge of junk messages. Small island countries seem to bear the brunt of the spam onslaught. According to antispam company Spamhaus, the ten most spammed countries and territories are:
| Country | Percentage of Email Received That’s Spam |
| Nauru | 95% |
| Micronesia | 93% |
| Solomon Islands | 92% |
| Marshall Islands | 92% |
| Vanuatu | 92% |
| American Samoa | 91% |
| Mariana Islands | 91% |
| Palau | 90% |
| Gibraltar | 90% |
| Cook Islands | 90% |
Many tiny Pacific island nations and territories suffer extreme spam levels over 90%. Larger countries like China and Brazil also end up inundated with spam, with around 85% of email being junk.
Why do some places get more spam than others?
Researchers have proposed several reasons that certain countries become magnets for spam:
- Small populations – Spammers can heavily target thinly spread populations.
- Undeveloped telecom infrastructure – Some places lack strong filters and blocking systems to keep out spam.
- “Neighbor effect” – Nearby spam hubs funnel traffic to bordering nations.
- Botnet targeting – Spam botnets aim to infect computers in specific countries.
- Language – English fluency and internet use make some areas appealing to spammers.
Places with limited technology resources essentially have gaping holes in their defenses against spam. This allows spamming botnets to infiltrate networks and inundate mailboxes.
What about spam phone calls?
Email is not the only domain plagued by spam. Robocalls, or automated spam calls, have also exploded into a global nuisance. According to Robokiller, the top spam-calling countries include:
| Country | Robocalls per Person Per Month |
| Brazil | 45.6 |
| United States | 25.6 |
| United Arab Emirates | 24 |
| Chile | 22.7 |
| South Africa | 20.7 |
| Costa Rica | 20.5 |
Robocalls have hit epidemic levels in fast-growing telecom markets like Brazil and the UAE. Americans also deal with constant spam calls offering scam services and demanding fake payments.
Conclusion
Spam and robocalls remain a frustrating reality across much of the planet. While developed countries like the U.S. generate much of the spam, smaller nations often end up bombarded with the highest concentrations of junk messages. Spam volumes ebb and flow based on factors like botnet activity and telecom infrastructure. Nonetheless, this form of digital pollution continues to be a headache for internet and phone users across the globe.