NEW YORK, 02 April. - (ANA) - In 2024, 5.5 billion people were online, representing 68 per cent of the world population. 

 

However, one third of the global population (2.6 billion) remain offline. 

 

While global Internet use has grown from 40 per cent in 2015 to 68 per cent in 2024 (equal to an annual average growth rate of 6.1 per cent), universal usage ? 95 per cent penetration ? remains a distant prospect. Internet use remains tightly linked to the level of development. 

 

Universal use has been achieved or nearly achieved in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe and Northern America, while sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) are lagging, 

 

with only 37 and 33 per cent of people online, respectively. Among LDCs and LLDCs, Internet use stands at just 35 and 39 per cent, respectively. 

 

Globally, 70 per cent of men were online, compared with 65 per cent of women, leaving 189 million more men than women connected in 2024. This difference has been decreasing since 2021, when it stood at 277 million.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/02 April 2026 - - -