Global Internet Usage Trends and Inequalities in 2023

In 2024, the number of internet users worldwide reached 5.44 billion, making up 67.1 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.07 billion people were active social media users, accounting for 62.6 percent of the world’s population. The internet plays a crucial role in connecting billions of people across the globe, serving as a fundamental component of the modern information society.

The year 2023 saw Northern Europe leading in internet usage, with countries like Norway and Saudi Arabia boasting a 99 percent internet penetration rate. On the other hand, North Korea had exceedingly low internet usage among its population, ranking at the bottom worldwide. Asia had the largest number of online users, exceeding 2.93 billion, followed by Europe with approximately 750 million users. Countries like China, India, and the United States led the pack in terms of sheer numbers of internet users.

In terms of gender disparity in internet usage, it stood at a global average of 63 percent for women and six percent lower than men in 2022. The divide was more substantial in regions like Arab States and Africa where there was a ten-percent difference between male and female internet users. However, regions such as Commonwealth Independent States and Europe demonstrated a smaller gender gap. Young people aged between 15 to 24 had the highest internet usage rates across all regions worldwide; Europe topped the list with a penetration rate of 98 percent compared to a global average of 75 percent for this age group.

Additionally, income levels played a significant role in determining internet access levels: In high-income markets like Northern Europe and North America, nearly all populations utilized the internet (92%), while low-income countries’ populations only utilized it at approximately one-quarter (26%) level.

Overall