6bn people online, 2.2bn still offline, says ITU

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By Juliet Umeh

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The world’s online population rose by more than 240 million people in 2025, bringing the total number of Internet users to six billion, according to the latest Facts and Figures 2025 report released by the International Telecommunication Union, ITU.

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The report shows that about three-quarters of the global population are now online, up from 5.8 billion in 2024. However, 2.2 billion people remain offline, underscoring persistent digital divides despite steady progress.

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ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online. Today’s digital divides are increasingly defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills.”

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For the first time, the report estimates that 5G subscriptions account for about one-third of global mobile broadband subscriptions, reaching around three billion users. While 5G now covers 55 per cent of the global population, access remains uneven—84 per cent in high-income countries compared to just four per cent in low-income nations.

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The ITU also revealed stark usage disparities, with users in high-income countries consuming nearly eight times more mobile data than those in low-income countries.

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Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, stressed that achieving universal and meaningful connectivity will require sustained investment in infrastructure, affordability, digital skills, and reliable data systems.

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The report further highlights gaps linked to income, gender, age, and geography, with rural populations, women, and low-income countries disproportionately represented among the offline population.

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