Research highlights: By 2024, there are 5.52 billion people using the internet worldwide, up from 1.02 billion in 2005. Europe is on top with 91% of its population online, but Africa is behind at 37%. In wealthier countries, 93% of people are connected, compared to just 27% in poorer countries, showing a clear digital divide.
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How many people use the internet?
As of 2024, there are 5.52 billion internet users worldwide
The number of people using the internet worldwide jumped from 1.02 billion in 2005 to 5.4 billion in 2023. That's an increase of 4.38 billion users over 18 years
The biggest jump in internet users happened in 2007, with a 19.18% growth rate, adding about 220 million new users that year
Over the past five years (2018 to 2023), the growth of internet users has slowed down a bit, with growth rates dropping from 8.28% in 2018 to just 1.89% in 2023
In 2020, there was a noticeable jump in internet use, with 11.31% growth, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total number of users to 4.59 billion
From 2012 to 2021, the number of internet users went up by 2.51 billion, almost doubling from 2.39 billion to 4.9 billion
The most new users in a single year were added between 2021 and 2022, with 400 million people joining, even though the percentage increase was 8.14%
Even though the growth rate is slowing down, by 2023, the internet reached more than two-thirds of the global population
Year | Internet users | Change |
|---|---|---|
2024 | 5.52B | ↑ 2.22% |
2023 | 5.40B | ↑ 1.89% |
2022 | 5.30B | ↑ 8.14% |
2021 | 4.90B | ↑ 6.89% |
2020 | 4.59B | ↑ 11.31% |
2019 | 4.12B | ↑ 10.46% |
2018 | 3.73B | ↑ 8.28% |
2017 | 3.44B | ↑ 7.06% |
2016 | 3.22B | ↑ 8.9% |
2015 | 2.95B | ↑ 7.42% |
2014 | 2.75B | ↑ 7.34% |
2013 | 2.56B | ↑ 7.33% |
2012 | 2.39B | ↑ 9.8% |
2011 | 2.17B | ↑ 9.74% |
2010 | 1.98B | ↑ 14.71% |
2009 | 1.73B | ↑ 11.78% |
2008 | 1.55B | ↑ 13.02% |
2007 | 1.37B | ↑ 19.18% |
2006 | 1.15B | ↑ 12.12% |
2005 | 1.02B | – |
Internet usage by region
Europe leads the way with internet use, with 91% of people online
The CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) is right behind Europe, with 89% of people connected
The Americas have an internet usage rate of 87%. It's a bit less than Europe and the CIS, but still shows strong internet access across both North and South America
In the Arab States, 69% of people use the internet. This is just above the global average of 67%, but quite a bit lower than in Europe and the Americas
Asia-Pacific has an internet usage rate of 66%, which is a little below the global average
Africa has the lowest internet usage rate, with only 37% of people online. This points to big gaps in internet access across the continent
The global average for internet use is 67%
Region | Internet Usage (%) |
|---|---|
Europe | 91% |
CIS | 89% |
Americas | 87% |
Arab States | 69% |
World | 67% |
Asia-Pacific | 66% |
Africa | 37% |
Internet usage by country income level
In high-income countries, about 93% of people are online
Upper-middle-income countries have 81% of their population using the internet. That's pretty high, but still 12 percentage points behind the high-income countries
In lower-middle-income countries, the internet usage rate is 55%
Low-income countries have the lowest internet usage, with just 27% of people online. This highlights a big digital divide that's tied to how much money a country has
There's a 66 percentage point gap between high-income and low-income countries (93% vs. 27%), showing just how different internet access can be depending on a country's wealth
Country income level | Internet usage |
|---|---|
Low-income | 27% |
Lower-middle-income | 55% |
Upper-middle-income | 81% |
High-income | 93% |
Sources
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