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UN: 2.2 Billion People Worldwide Have Never Been Online
17 Nov
Summary
- 2.2 billion people have never used the internet
- 96% of offline population lives in low/middle-income countries
- Africa has the lowest internet usage at just 36% of population
According to a recent report from the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU), over 2.2 billion people globally have never used the internet as of November 2025. This figure represents more than a quarter of the world's population, despite the number of internet users increasing by 200 million since 2024.
The report found that the vast majority of those without internet access, around 96%, live in low or middle-income countries. Africa has the lowest internet usage of any region, with just 36% of people ever having been online. Other developing regions like the Arab States and Asia Pacific also lag behind, with 70% and 77% of their populations online, respectively.
In contrast, high-income countries have nearly ubiquitous internet access, with around 94% of people connected. The UN has emphasized the need to prioritize improving internet affordability, reliability, and digital skills to help close this persistent "connectivity gap" between the richest and poorest parts of the world.
