Global Internet Users Hit 5.5Billion

LAGOS – The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) stated that 227 million new people connected to the internet for the first time in 2024, bringing the total number of connected people to over 5.5 billion.

This figure accounts for 68% of the global population, meaning that a third of the world’s population (2.6 billion) remains offline as the “stubborn digital divide persists,” the ITU stated in its Facts and Figures 2024 report. For comparison, in 2023, there were 2.8 billion unconnect­ed people, equivalent to around 35% of the population.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bog­dan-Martin (pictured) said the figures highlight “a tale of two digital realities between high-income and low-income countries.”

“Stark gaps in critical connectivity indicators are cutting off the most vul­nerable people from online access to in­formation, education, and employment opportunities. This report is a reminder that true progress in our interconnected world isn’t just about how fast we move forward, but about making sure everyone moves forward together,” Bogdan-Martin added.

“The world is inching towards uni­versal access at a time when it should be sprinting,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zava­zava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunica­tion Development Bureau.

The report found that 70% of men used the internet in 2024 compared to 65% of women, a gap of around 189 mil­lion. However, progress is being made towards achieving gender parity.

Affordability is improving, with the cost of fixed broadband in low-income countries now equating to nearly a third of average monthly income. Around four out of five people aged over 10 own a mo­bile phone, but this is more prevalent in high-income countries—where 95% of those over 10 possess a mobile phone— compared to just 56% in low-income markets.

A more significant divide exists be­tween urban and rural dwellers, with 83% of urban residents using the inter­net compared to only 48% of rural in­habitants. Of the 2.6 billion people who remain unconnected, 1.8 billion live in rural areas.

Coverage of 5G is estimated to reach over half (51%) of the global population this year, but “significant disparities” per­sist between high- and low-income coun­tries. While 84% of people in high-income nations are covered by 5G, only 4% have access in low-income countries.