The International Telecommunication Union has released its latest report into global connectivity.
According to Facts and Figures 2025, digital connectivity is continuing to expand with an estimated 6 billion people now using the internet around the world. Equating to around three quarters of the global population, the figure is up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. However, the findings demonstrate some 2.2 billion remain offline, a year-on-year fall from 2024’s estimate of 2.3 billion.
Emphasising the importance of digital infrastructure, the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) report also estimated the total number of 5G subscriptions at around 3 billion, about a third of all mobile broadband subscriptions.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU secretary-general, 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.This report highlights how today’s digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity.”
The report estimates 5G network coverage is available for 55 per cent of the global population but highlights its uneven nature: 84 per cent of people in high income countries have access to 5G against just 4 per cent in low income countries. While 4G and 3G services are widely available across the world, Facts and Figures 2025 said they are not best suited for keeping pace with advancing technologies.
Costs were found to be falling with a decrease in the median price of a data-only mobile broadband basket, but access remains unaffordable in around 60 per cent of low- and middle-income countries. While most users have basic skills, the development of more advanced capabilities such as online safety, problem-solving and digital content creation is progressing at a slower pace.
ITU’s telecommunication development bureau director Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, said, “Reliable data are the foundation of effective digital policies and of our shared vision to connect the world. Achieving that vision will require sustained and well-targeted efforts – in infrastructure, in digital skills, and in data systems. By working together and directing resources where the needs are greatest, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone benefits fully and safely from the opportunities of the digital age.”
Digital division persists across the globe, with some of the reports key findings including:
- 94 per cent of people in high-income countries use the internet, in contrast to only 23 per cent in low-income countries
- 96 per cent of those offline live in low- and middle-income countries
- 77 per cent of men are online compared to 71 per cent of women
- 85 per cent in urban areas are online versus 58 per cent in rural areas
- 82 per cent of 15–24-year-olds use the Internet, compared with 72 per cent of the rest of the population
The full report can be accessed here.
