Global Internet Users Reach 6 Billion as 2.2 Billion Remain Offline — ITU

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has reported that the number of people connected to the internet worldwide has climbed to six billion in 2025, marking an increase of over 240 million users within a year.

According to the ITU Facts and Figures 2025 report, roughly three-quarters of the global population are now online, compared to 5.8 billion users in 2024. However, the data shows that 2.2 billion people still lack internet access, underscoring continued global disparities in digital connectivity.

ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, highlighted the evolving nature of the digital divide, stating: “In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online. Today’s digital divides are increasingly defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills.”

The report also points to the rapid expansion of next-generation mobile networks, estimating that 5G subscriptions now account for about one-third of global mobile broadband usage, serving around three billion people. Despite 5G reaching 55 per cent of the global population, access remains uneven, with 84 per cent coverage in high-income countries compared to just four per cent in low-income nations.

Usage patterns further reflect inequality, with individuals in wealthier countries consuming nearly eight times more mobile data than those in lower-income regions.

Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, noted that bridging these gaps will require consistent investment in infrastructure, improved affordability, stronger digital skills, and reliable data frameworks.

The findings also reveal that offline populations are disproportionately made up of rural residents, women, and people in low-income countries, pointing to structural barriers that continue to limit universal digital access.

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