By Habeeb Ibrahim
An estimated 6.3 billion people, representing 76 per cent of the world’s population of approximately 8.3 billion, are using the Internet in 2026, while about two billion people remain offline, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The figure represents an increase from a revised estimate of 6.1 billion Internet users, or 74 per cent of the global population, in 2025.
The ITU disclosed this in its latest Facts and Figures 2026 report, released on Tuesday, November 3, highlighting continued growth in global connectivity alongside persistent inequalities in access to digital technologies.
According to Worldometer’s 2026 population estimates, the world’s population stands at approximately 8.3 billion.
Despite the increase in Internet usage, the ITU report showed that access remains heavily influenced by countries’ income levels, with 93 per cent of people in high-income countries using the Internet, compared with just 32 per cent in low-income countries.
ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said people without Internet access risk missing out on opportunities in education, employment and other areas, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important.
“In the age of AI, being offline means being shut out of countless opportunities, from education to employment. Now more than ever, we need to expand connectivity and make it meaningful for everyone, everywhere,” she said.
The report also revealed differences in Internet usage between men and women, with 79 per cent of men and 74 per cent of women globally using the Internet.
Young people remain more connected, as 86 per cent of people aged 15 to 24 use the Internet, compared with 74 per cent of the rest of the population.
On the urban-rural divide, the ITU said 82 per cent of urban residents use the Internet, compared with 63 per cent of people in rural areas, although the gap has narrowed.
The report further estimated that 84 per cent of the global population aged 10 and above own a mobile phone. Ownership exceeds 95 per cent in high-income countries but stands at 57 per cent in low-income countries.
In terms of network coverage, about 97 per cent of the world’s population lives within reach of at least a 3G network.
However, access to 5G technology remains uneven, with the network covering 59 per cent of the global population. Coverage stands at 86 per cent in high-income countries, compared with only four per cent in low-income countries.
Average monthly mobile broadband traffic per subscription also varies significantly, reaching 20 gigabytes in high-income countries, against 3.4 gigabytes in low-income countries.
Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, said expanding connectivity must go hand in hand with improving digital skills to ensure people can benefit from emerging technologies.
He warned that without digital skills and meaningful connectivity, the benefits of technological advancement could remain beyond the reach of many people, further widening existing inequalities.
The ITU said improving affordability, availability, quality of connectivity and digital literacy remains essential to achieving universal and meaningful Internet access.
