The global number of internet users increased by over 240 million in 2025, reaching a total of six billion, according to the latest “Facts and Figures 2025” report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The report indicates that roughly 75% of the world’s population is now online, up from 5.8 billion users in 2024.
Despite this growth, about 2.2 billion people still lack internet access, highlighting ongoing digital inequality.
ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, noted that while digital technologies have become essential to everyday life, not everyone benefits equally.
She emphasized that the digital divide is now shaped by factors such as connection speed, reliability, affordability, and digital skills.
For the first time, 5G subscriptions make up about one-third of global mobile broadband connections, totaling around three billion users. Although 5G coverage now reaches 55% of the global population, access is highly uneven, 84% in wealthier countries compared to just 4% in low-income nations.
The ITU also highlighted major differences in usage, with people in high-income countries consuming nearly eight times more mobile data than those in poorer regions.
According to Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, achieving universal and meaningful connectivity will require continued investment in infrastructure, improved affordability, stronger digital skills, and better data systems.
The report also points to disparities based on income, gender, age, and location, with rural communities, women, and low-income populations making up the majority of those still offline.
