Internet Users by Country (2024)

The Global Digital Divide

Internet penetration measures the percentage of a country's population using the internet. Advanced economies have near-universal access: over 95% in Scandinavia, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. But in much of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, penetration remains below 40%. The digital divide has enormous economic consequences — countries with high internet penetration benefit from e-commerce, digital financial services, and remote work capability.

Mobile broadband has leapfrogged fixed-line infrastructure in most developing countries. M-Pesa in Kenya demonstrated how mobile technology can revolutionize financial access. The pandemic dramatically accelerated digital adoption even in lower-income countries. GDP per capita correlates strongly with internet access — there is no wealthy, low-connectivity country.