Geneva, 03 November 2026 - 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 today by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The figure 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.
With Internet use now estimated to extend to more than three-quarters of global population, Facts and Figures 2026 shows continued progress toward universal connectivity.
At the same time, the data reveal persistent disparities in who is connected. As 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.