International Telecommunication Union reports 6 billion Internet users worldwide in 2025
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported that the global number of Internet users surpassed 6 billion in 2025, marking an increase of over 240 million users compared to the previous year. Despite this growth, disparities in Internet quality and access remain factors influencing user experience worldwide.
The report emphasizes that while more individuals are connected, issues such as service speed, reliability, cost, and digital skills affect the utility and inclusivity of Internet use. The ITU notes that these elements are key to advancing comprehensive connectivity across different populations.
From a technical perspective, approximately one-third of mobile broadband subscriptions—around 3 billion—are now under 5G technology. Coverage extends to 55 percent of the global population, although the distribution is uneven, with 84 percent coverage in high-income regions compared to 4 percent in low-income regions. Older technologies like 3G and 4G remain widely available but are less suited to support emerging digital technologies.
The ITU's findings also reveal differences in mobile data usage, with individuals in high-income countries generating nearly eight times more data than those in low-income countries. Affordability remains a concern, as mobile broadband services are still priced beyond reach in about 60 percent of low- and middle-income countries. Skill disparities persist, with many users possessing basic abilities, while more advanced competencies develop at a slower pace.
“In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, said, “Reliable data are the foundation of effective digital policies and of our shared vision to connect the world. Achieving that vision will require sustained and well-targeted efforts – in infrastructure, in digital skills, and in data systems. By working together and directing resources where the needs are greatest, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone benefits fully and safely from the opportunities of the digital age.”
The ITU noted ongoing divides along economic, gender, and geographic lines: 94 percent Internet use in high-income countries compared to 23 percent in low-income countries; 77 percent of men online versus 71 percent of women; 85 percent connectivity in urban areas against 58 percent in rural areas; and higher Internet use among the younger population aged 15–24. The report provided updated global, regional, and income-based estimates on Internet use, network coverage, affordability, digital skills, and mobile ownership.