Global Internet use surged in 2025, with more than six billion people, about three-quarters of the world’s population, now online, according to the Facts and Figures 2025 report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The figure marks an increase of over 240 million new users compared to 2024, when global Internet users stood at 5.8 billion. However, despite steady progress, 2.2 billion people remain offline, only slightly down from 2.3 billion the previous year.
While connectivity continues to expand, the ITU warns that digital divides are increasingly defined not just by access but by quality, affordability, and skills.
“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. She noted that disparities in speed, reliability, and affordability are shaping how effectively people can participate in the digital economy.
For the first time, the report estimates global 5G subscriptions, which now account for about one-third of all mobile broadband subscriptions, roughly three billion worldwide. By 2025, 5G networks cover 55 per cent of the global population. However, coverage remains highly uneven: 84 per cent of people in high-income countries have access to 5G, compared with just four per cent in low-income nations.
Although 4G and 3G services are widely available, the report suggests these networks may struggle to keep pace with data-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence. Usage intensity also reflects inequality: the average user in a high-income country consumes nearly eight times more mobile data than someone in a low-income country.
Affordability remains a major barrier. While the median price of data-only mobile broadband has declined globally, Internet access remains unaffordable in around 60 per cent of low- and middle-income countries.
The report also highlights gaps linked to income, gender and location. Internet penetration stands at 94 per cent in high-income countries but only 23 per cent in low-income countries. Men remain more connected than women, urban areas outpace rural regions, and young people are more likely to be online than older populations.
The ITU concludes that expanding infrastructure, improving affordability and strengthening digital skills will be critical to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity worldwide.
