Key Internet Statistics In 2024 - The State Of Cyberspace

Ever wonder how many of us are online in 2024? As of this year, a whopping 5.35 billion people, or about 66.2 percent of the global population, are using the internet. That's a lot of us sharing memes, watching videos, and doing a bit of online shopping. With the rise of mobile devices, almost 96 percent of people use their phones to go online, accounting for over 55 percent of all web traffic.

In this article, we'll examine the latest stats and trends and what they mean for those of us who can't imagine a day without the internet. Let's discuss how our online habits are shaping the digital landscape in 2024.

Global Internet Penetration

Internet Penetration Rates by Region

Internet Usage by Country

Demographics of Internet Users

Age Distribution of Internet Users

The internet connects people of all ages, and each age group uses it differently. Here’s a snapshot of how we all engage online:

• 18-24 years: About 19 percent of global users are in this age group, heavily using social media and streaming services.
• 25-34 years: The largest group at 35.6 percent, often using the internet for work and social interactions.
• 35-44 years: Around 24 percent, balancing work and personal use, frequently engaging in online shopping.
• 45-54 years: Making up 11.3 percent, they increasingly use the internet for both professional and leisure activities.
• 55 and older: Representing 6 percent, mainly staying connected with family and accessing news.

Gender Disparities in Internet Usage

Globally, men still outnumber women online. About 70 percent of men use the internet compared to 65 percent of women. 

Several factors contribute to this. In many low- and middle-income countries, cultural norms and economic barriers play a big role. For example, women in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are 15 percent less likely to use mobile internet due to affordability and societal norms.

Thankfully, efforts to close this gap are making progress. Initiatives to boost digital literacy among women and make internet access more affordable are key. In countries like India, targeted programs are improving women's access to mobile internet.

Urban vs. Rural Internet Usage

There's a noticeable gap in internet usage between urban and rural areas, but it’s slowly closing. In cities, about 82 percent of us are online, while only around 45 percent of rural residents have internet access. In the U.S., 94 percent of city dwellers use the internet compared to 90 percent in rural areas.

Here are the challenges and initiatives to improve rural internet access:

• Infrastructure: Rural areas often lack reliable internet infrastructure. To address this, governments and companies are investing in more broadband towers and fiber optic networks.
• Affordability: High costs of devices and data plans can be a barrier. Subsidies and low-cost internet plans are being introduced to make internet access more affordable for rural communities.
• Digital Literacy: Many rural residents lack the skills to use the internet effectively. Training programs are helping people learn how to utilize online resources and services.
• Awareness: Some rural areas are unaware of the internet’s benefits. Campaigns and community outreach programs are raising awareness about how the internet can improve education, health, and economic opportunities.
• Electricity Access: Consistent electricity is crucial for reliable internet access. Projects like solar power initiatives in remote areas aim to improve electricity infrastructure.

Internet Usage Patterns

Average Time Spent Online

How much time do we spend online daily? On average, we clock in about 6 hours and 40 minutes each day. 

Here's how much time we typically spend online each day around the world:

Popular Online Activities

Social Media 

Social media usage continues to grow, with billions of people engaging daily across various platforms. This overview breaks down the average daily time spent on the most popular social networks.

• TikTok - 55.8 minutes
• YouTube - 48.7 minutes
• Facebook- 30.8 minutes
• Instagram- 33.0 minutes
• Twitter (X)- 31.4 minutes
• WhatsApp - 33.5 minutes

Streaming

Streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify are incredibly popular for consuming video and audio content. Here’s a detailed comparison of major streaming services in terms of their subscribers and revenue. 

Spotify (Music Streaming)

• Subscribers: 365 million
• Revenue: $165 billion

HBO Max

• Subscribers: 67 million
• Revenue: $45 billion

Apple TV+

• Subscribers: 34 million
• Revenue: $6 billion

Hulu

• Subscribers: 39 million
• Revenue: $2.8 billion

Disney+

• Subscribers: 100 million
• Revenue: $6.9 billion

Amazon Prime Video

• Subscribers: 175 million
• Revenue: $17 billion

Netflix

• Subscribers: 200 million
• Revenue: $25 billion

Gaming

Online gaming is a major part of internet usage. Platforms like Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live have millions of gamers playing every day. In a March 2024 survey, 76% of U.S. adults enjoyed playing video games on at least one platform, while 24% didn't play games at all.

U.S. Adult Video Game Participation from 2020 to 2024

Online Shopping

Shopping online is second nature for many of us. Sites like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Target are our go-tos for everything from clothes to electronics. Amazon leads the U.S. market with the largest share, followed by Walmart at 6.4 percent. 

• Amazon: 37.60%
• Walmart: 6.40%
• Apple: 3.60%
• eBay: 3.00%
• Target: 1.90%
• The Home Depot: 1.90%
• Costco: 1.50%
• Best Buy: 1.40%
• Carvana: 1.40%
• Kroger: 1.30%

Online Education

The top two most well-known online education services in the U.S are both language learning tools. Rosetta Stone leads with 61 percent brand awareness, followed by Babbel at 51 percent. LinkedIn Learning ranks third, while Duolingo and Khan Academy follow closely. 

Top Online Education Platforms in the U.S. for 2023

Mobile Internet Usage

Mobile vs. Fixed Internet Usage

More people access the Internet through their smartphones, making up 58.21 percent of global internet traffic. This trend is driven by affordable smartphones, better mobile network coverage, and data-heavy apps like social media and streaming.

Mobile Browsers

When we talk about mobile internet, it’s interesting to see which browsers and operating systems we’re using the most. This table illustrates the market share of various mobile browsers worldwide from January 2023 to May 2024, with Chrome leading the market significantly.

Global Leaders in Mobile Browser Market Share

Mobile Operating System

The global mobile operating system market is dominated by Android and iOS. Smaller players like Samsung's OS, KaiOS, and others hold minimal market shares. Let's look at their market shares from May 2023 to May 2024.

Global Market Share of Mobile Operating Systems

Social Media Statistics

Social media keeps growing. In 2024, there will be about 5.07 billion users, making up 62.6 percent of the world’s population. Over the past year, 259 million new users joined social media.   

Facebook

With 3.065 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the largest social media platform globally. We use it to connect with friends and family, share updates, and join community groups. Here's a table showing the number of Facebook users in the top countries.

Global Distribution of Facebook Users by Demographics

Men aged 25 to 34 make up the largest group on Facebook, representing 18.4 percent of users. Following closely, men aged 18 to 24 years form the second largest audience. These demographics highlight the platform's strong appeal among younger male users.

Youtube

Boasting 2.504 billion users, YouTube is our go-to for videos, entertainment, tutorials, and live streaming. The following table lists the top YouTube channels by number of subscribers, categorized by rank, grade, username, number of uploads, subscribers, and video views.

YouTube User Age Distribution

People aged 25 to 34 make up 21.3 percent of YouTube's users, making this the largest age group on the platform. Following closely, users aged 35 to 44 are the second-largest group. Young adults aged 18 to 24 also represent a significant portion, accounting for 15.5 percent of YouTube's user base.

WhatsApp

With 2 billion users, WhatsApp is popular for its simplicity and secure communication, outpacing Facebook and WeChat. It's projected to reach 3.14 billion users by 2025. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WhatsApp saw a 40 percent spike in users, revolutionizing business communication globally.

WhatsApp Usage Across Age Groups in the US

WhatsApp is most popular among young Americans aged 18-34, with 31 percent of this age group having a WhatsApp account as of May 2022. This demonstrates a strong preference for the messaging app among younger users in the United States.

Instagram

Also with 2 billion users, Instagram is our favorite for sharing photos and videos. It’s a hub for influencers, brands, and visual storytelling. In April 2024, 16.5 percent of active Instagram users globally were men aged 18-24. More than half of all Instagram users worldwide were 34 years or younger.

Instagram Reels Overtakes TikTok for Influencers

Instagram Reels is now more popular for influencer marketing than TikTok and YouTube. While it's still behind traditional Instagram posts, Reels is growing fast. With this rapid rise, we might see Reels surpass main-feed posts in popularity within the next few years. Here’s the percent of marketers using different platforms by year.

TikTok

TikTok has 1.582 billion users, driven by its engaging short-form videos, especially popular among younger people. The following table shows the average monthly time spent online by internet users in different countries.

1. UK - 49 hours and 29 minutes
2. USA - 45 hours and 37 minutes
3. Mexico - 45 hours and 1 minute
4. Chile - 42 hours and 55 minutes
5. Belgium - 42 hours and 20 minutes
6. Australia - 42 hours and 13 minutes
7. Vietnam - 41 hours and 14 minutes
8. Philippines - 40 hours and 46 minutes
9. Israel - 39 hours and 27 minutes
10. Malaysia - 38 hours and 49 minutes

TikTok User Demographics by Gender

The latest data shows that 53.4 percent of TikTok users are female, while 46.6 percent are male. Among these, the largest group is female users aged 18-24, making up 23.8 percent of the platform's audience. Conversely, male users aged 55 and older form the smallest group, at just 1.7 percent.

E-commerce and Online Shopping

Global E-commerce Statistics

Global e-commerce sales are set to hit $4.2 trillion, showing our growing love for online shopping. With an 8.8 percent annual growth, it's clear the e-commerce market is booming. Around 2.71 billion of us are expected to shop online, highlighting our reliance on digital marketplaces.

The following table displays the number of online shoppers in the United States, categorized by age group. 

Age Demographics of Online Shoppers in the U.S.

Mobile Commerce Trends

Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is rapidly growing, with mobile shopping projected to hit $2.5 trillion in sales by the end of 2024. According to a December 2022 Morning Consult poll, over 60 percent of US adults think mobile shopping is essential for convenience.

Online Shopping Attributes Necessary for Convenience (December 2022)

Internet Infrastructure and Technology

Broadband and Internet Speeds

Internet speeds vary widely around the world. Monaco tops the list with an average broadband speed of 261.82 Mbps, followed by Singapore and Hong Kong, which have 255.83 Mbps and 254.70 Mbps, respectively. 

Here are the top 10 countries with the fastest internet speeds:

• Monaco: 261.82 Mbps
• Singapore: 255.83 Mbps
• Hong Kong: 254.70 Mbps
• Romania: 232.17 Mbps
• Switzerland: 229.96 Mbps
• Denmark: 227.91 Mbps
• Thailand: 225.17 Mbps
• Chile: 217.60 Mbps
• France: 214.04 Mbps
• South Korea: 212.57 Mbps

Top 10 countries with the slowest internet speeds:

• Cuba: 4.01 Mbps
• Turkmenistan: 4.11 Mbps
• Yemen: 7.59 Mbps
• Sudan: 7.92 Mbps
• Equatorial Guinea: 7.95 Mbps
• Afghanistan: 8.26 Mbps
• Guinea: 8.84 Mbps
• Mozambique: 9.27 Mbps
• Algeria: 10.43 Mbps

Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is booming, with an estimated 25.44 billion connected devices expected by 2030. For instance, smart home devices like thermostats and security systems are becoming household staples.

Video Entertainment Dominates Smart Home Spending

Back in 2017 and 2018, video entertainment was the top category for smart home spending. However, since then, other IoT categories have taken a bigger slice of the pie. Here's a breakdown of the estimated smart home spending by category for 2022.

Estimated Smart Home Spending by Category in 2022

Cybersecurity and Internet Safety

Cybersecurity Threats and Statistics

In 2023, manufacturing faced the most cyberattacks among major industries worldwide, with nearly a quarter of the total attacks. Finance and insurance came next with around 18 percent, followed by professional, business, and consumer services at 15.4 percent. 

Cyberattack Distribution Across Global Industries in 2023

Industries Most Affected by Phishing Q1 2024

In the first quarter of 2024, 37.6 percent of phishing attacks worldwide hit social media platforms. Web-based software services and webmail came next with around 21 percent of the attacks. Financial institutions also faced a significant share, accounting for 9.8 percent of these phishing attempts.

Future Trends and Predictions

Predictions for Internet Growth

The internet is expected to keep growing rapidly, with a notable increase in users and penetration worldwide. By 2030, we're looking at a whopping 7.5 billion internet users. That's about 90% of the expected global population of 8.5 billion. It's a huge jump from the number of internet users we have today, showing just how connected our world is becoming.

5G Networks

5G is set to boost the Internet of Things (IoT) market significantly, connecting machines and devices with higher data speeds and ultra-low latency. Connected cars are projected to have the largest 5G IoT endpoints by 2023, surpassing 19 million installations. Outdoor surveillance cameras and fleet telematics devices will also contribute to the 5G IoT landscape.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The global AI market is projected to hit $184 billion in 2024, with the U.S. leading the charge. We’re looking at a whopping annual growth rate of 28.46 percent, potentially reaching $826.70 billion by 2030. To put this in perspective, Berkshire Hathaway’s market cap is around $861.89 billion today.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Smart home stats reveal that the US market is on a steady growth path. Annual growth rates of 10.2 percent are forecast from 2025 to 2028.

In 2025, the US will have around 77.05 million smart homes. This number will grow to 84.92 million in 2026, 93.59 million in 2027, and surpass 100 million by 2028.

Quantum Computing

The global quantum computing market reached USD 10.13 billion in 2022 and is set to soar past USD 125 billion by 2030, with an impressive CAGR of 36.89 percent from 2022 to 2030.

Quantum computing, leveraging principles of quantum mechanics and theory, operates with bits in all states between zero and one, delivering extraordinary performance. Its growing use in fields like quantum parallelism, algorithms, cryptography, machine learning, and quantum simulation drives sales and market expansion.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

AR and VR will transform entertainment, education, and remote work by providing immersive experiences. They will also create new ways for us to interact with digital content.

A 2019 report predicts that by 2030, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will significantly boost the global GDP by 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars. This is a substantial increase from the 46.4 billion U.S. dollars recorded in 2019, highlighting the growing economic influence of these technologies.

Broadband Advocacy Targets for 2025

The seven Advocacy Targets of the Broadband Commission set ambitious goals to guide national and international broadband development and achieve universal connectivity. Initially, four connectivity goals were established in 2011, expanded to five in 2013 with the addition of gender equality, and eventually reached seven in 2018.

Advocacy Target 1: Universal Broadband Policy for All

Every country should aim to have a funded National Broadband Plan (NBP) or strategy by 2025, or at least include broadband in their Universal Access and Service (UAS) definition. In 2022, 155 countries had a national broadband plan, a slight drop from 165 in 2021, mainly due to expired plans that haven't been renewed. Having a plan is a great start, but what really matters is how effectively it's put into action.

Countries Prioritizing National Broadband Strategies

Advocacy Target 2: Affordable Internet Access for Everyone

By 2025, entry-level broadband services should be affordable in low- and middle-income countries at less than 2 percent of monthly Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

According to the ITU’s 2023 Facts and Figures report, 114 out of 188 economies meet the affordability target for mobile data in 2023, 11 more than in 2022. Seventy-one out of 178 economies meet the fixed-broadband target, unchanged from 2022. Among low- and middle-income economies, 62 meet the Broadband Commission’s affordability target, but many still find it challenging.

Advocacy Target 3: Connecting Everyone to the Internet

Broadband-Internet user penetration targets for 2025 aim for 75% worldwide, 65% in low- and middle-income countries, and 35 percent in least developed countries.

According to ITU's 2023 data, about 67 percent of the global population, or 5.4 billion people, are now online. This marks a 4.7 percent increase from 2022, up from the 3.5 percent growth seen between 2021 and 2022. The number of offline individuals in 2023 dropped to 2.6 billion, which is 33 percent of the world's population.

Advocacy Target 4: Building Digital Literacy Worldwide

The goal is for 60 percent of youth and adults to have at least a minimum level of digital skills by 2025. Digital literacy remains a significant barrier to internet usage, often cited by those who remain offline.

Recent ITU data highlights that, despite high internet usage at 87%, many users lack essential digital skills. This gap suggests that while people are online, they may not fully benefit from or safely navigate the digital world. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving global digital literacy.

Advocacy Target 5: Growing Global E-Finance Usage

The goal is for 40 percent of the world’s population to be using digital financial services by 2025. Digital financial services can quickly increase internet usage and provide social and economic benefits to more people.

According to the latest World Bank’s FINDEX survey, 64 percent of individuals aged 15 and older made or received digital payments in 2021. While low and lower-middle-income countries and South Asia haven't reached the target yet, they are on track to achieve it by 2025.

Advocacy Target 6: Boosting Online Access for MSMEs

Improving connectivity for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by 50 percent by 2025 is a key goal. High-income nations typically have connectivity data broken down by enterprise size, though micro-enterprises are sometimes excluded.

In many low- and middle-income countries, aggregated data on internet access for enterprises is often unavailable. It's crucial to understand the nature of connectivity needed. For instance, a one-person micro-enterprise might only need a smartphone with wireless access to operate, especially for social media-based online selling.

Advocacy Target 7: Equal Internet Access for Women and Men

Achieving gender equality in internet usage is essential. The latest ITU estimates show that 70 percent of men and 65 percent of women were online in 2023, with gender parity improving from 0.90 in 2019 to 0.92 in 2023.

Despite progress in some regions, women still make up a larger share of the global offline population. In fact, women now outnumber men among non-Internet users by 17 percent, an increase from 11 percent in 2019. This highlights the need for continued efforts to close the digital gender gap.

Challenges and Opportunities

The digital landscape offers both challenges and opportunities as we strive to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to the internet for all. 

Challenges

• Digital Divide: Urban and rural areas have a significant disparity in infrastructure. Rural regions often lack the necessary facilities, making high-speed internet both difficult and expensive to provide.
• Affordability: Internet costs can be prohibitively high for many people, limiting access.
• Digital Literacy Gap: Many people, especially in developing countries, lack the skills to use digital technologies effectively. Limited access to educational resources and training programs exacerbates this issue.
• Gender Disparities: Women, particularly in low-income regions, are significantly less likely to use the internet compared to men.

Opportunities

• Emerging Technologies: Technologies like 5G and satellite internet can provide faster and more reliable connections, even in remote areas.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Initiatives like the Giga project by UNICEF and ITU aim to connect schools worldwide to the internet.
• Reducing Costs: By lowering the cost of internet access, more people can be brought online.
• Investing in Digital Literacy: Creating and funding programs to improve digital skills can help bridge the digital divide and ensure everyone benefits from the digital economy.

To Wrap Up

It's clear that the internet is evolving rapidly. We're seeing more users, growing mobile usage, and expanded high-speed connectivity. These changes bring both opportunities and challenges for businesses, policymakers, and everyday users like us.

For businesses, there are new opportunities for innovation and market reach. Policymakers need to bridge digital divides and ensure equitable access to technology. For us, the internet's evolving role promises even greater integration into our daily lives, changing how we communicate, work, and play.