An estimated 6.3 billion people, or 76 per cent of the world’s population, are using the Internet in 2026, according to Facts and Figures 2026, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yet a digital divide persists around the globe.

The figure, according to  a media statement from the Geneva-based ITU on November 3, is up from a revised estimate of 6.1 billion people, or 74 per cent, in 2025.

Despite the continued growth in connectivity, 2 billion people remain offline, the report highlighted.

“In the age of AI, being offline means being shut out of countless opportunities, from education to employment,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, “Now more than ever, we need to expand connectivity and make it meaningful for everyone, everywhere.”

With Internet use now estimated to extend to more than three-quarters of the global population, Facts and Figures 2026 shows continued progress toward universal connectivity.

At the same time, the data reveals persistent disparities in who is connected.

For example, Internet use stands at 93 per cent in high income countries, compared with just 32 per cent in low-income countries.

Closing gaps in the affordability, availability, quality and use of digital technologies and services is essential to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity, when everyone can use the Internet under optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, wherever and whenever they need.

The latest edition of ITU’s annual connectivity assessment provides global, regional and income group estimates for indicators related to Internet use, subscriptions and traffic as well as affordability, digital skills, mobile network coverage and mobile phone ownership.

Key findings in Facts and Figures 2026  report include the following:

# Gender: Globally, 79 per cent of men and 74 per cent of women use the Internet. The ratio of women to men using the Internet has increased to 0.94.

# Age: Young people remain more connected than the rest of the population, with 86 per cent of people aged 15 to 24 using the Internet globally, compared with 74 per cent of the rest of the population.

# Location: The urban-rural divide has narrowed, although clear disparities persist. Globally, 82 per cent of urban residents have access to the Internet, compared with 63 per cent in rural areas.

# Mobile phone ownership: Globally, 84 percent of the population aged 10 and over own a mobile phone. Ownership exceeds 95 per cent in high-income countries, compared with 57 per cent in low-income countries.

# Mobile network coverage: An estimated 97 per cent of the global population lives within reach of at least a 3G network. However, coverage by more advanced technologies remains highly unequal. While 5G reaches 59 per cent of the global population, coverage ranges from 86 per cent in high-income countries to just 4 per cent in low-income countries.

# Monthly mobile use: Average monthly mobile broadband traffic per subscription is 20 GB in high-income countries, roughly six times the 3.4 GB in low-income countries.

# Affordability: The global median price of a data-only mobile broadband basket fell to 1.2 per cent of gross national income per capita, while that of a fixed broadband basket declined to 2.3 per cent.

As AI reshapes economies and societies, the report notes that connectivity, including its affordability, and digital skills will determine who benefits from advancing technologies, and that closing the global digital divide is essential so that no one is left behind in the digital future.

The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations.