The world’s internet population has grown by more than 240 million people in 2025, bringing the total number of users to six billion, according to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) “Facts and Figures 2025” report.
ITU report
The statistics show that nearly three‑quarters of the global population is now online, up from 5.8 billion in 2024, yet about 2.2 billion people still do not have internet access, underscoring persistent digital inequality.
ITU Secretary‑General Doreen Bogdan‑Martin said access to digital technology remains uneven across regions.
“In a world where digital technologies are essential to 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,” she said.
For the first time, the report estimates that 5G subscriptions now make up about one‑third of global mobile broadband, reaching roughly three billion users.
Although 5G covers 55 per cent of the world’s population, access is highly skewed: 84 per cent in high‑income countries and only four per cent in low‑income nations.
The ITU also highlighted wide usage gaps, noting that mobile data consumption in high‑income countries is almost eight times higher than in low‑income countries.
Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, said achieving universal and meaningful connectivity will require sustained investment in infrastructure, affordability, digital skills and reliable data systems.
The report further points to disparities linked to income, gender, age and location, with rural communities, women and people in low‑income countries forming a large share of those still offline.
