{"id":240151,"date":"2025-12-08T19:51:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/?p=240151"},"modified":"2025-12-09T10:29:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T10:29:32","slug":"moving-the-needle-on-universal-and-meaningful-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/blog\/2025\/12\/moving-the-needle-on-universal-and-meaningful-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving the Needle on Universal and Meaningful Access\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the International Telecommunication Union\u2019s (ITU\u2019s) Facts and Figures 2025<\/em><\/a>, an estimated 6 billion people\u2014about three-quarters of the world\u2019s population\u2014are now using the Internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten years ago, the estimate was roughly 3.2 billion people. Nearly twice as many people today have access to the opportunities the Internet offers, and this is no small feat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these numbers also remind us how far we still have to go. 2.2 billion people are still offline. That\u2019s 2.2 billion people unable to fully participate in education, commerce, communication, and innovation that so many of us take for granted.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Internet Society, we believe the Internet should be available to everyone, everywhere. And the new data underscores exactly why our work must continue with urgency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Inequality Shows Its Face on the Internet <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Worldwide growth is strong. The latest ITU report confirms a rise in global Internet use: from 53.9% in 2019 to 73.6% in 2025. But this growth is uneven. The global numbers hide major differences across regions and income levels.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data from the ITU\u2019s country-level and regional Internet-use indicators show a world moving forward, but at different speeds. Africa, for instance, has grown from around 24% in 2019 to 35% in 2025. A big increase but still lagging behind the global average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with double-digit gains, Africa remains the least-connected region. Meanwhile, the Americas are moving closer to universal access, increasing from 76% in 2019 to 88% by 2025. The leap reflects strong infrastructure, improved affordability, and established broadband markets.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining populations will be harder to reach, as they live in rural, low-income, and isolated areas. This highlights the need for innovative approaches to connectivity, like community-centered connectivity solutions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average for high-income countries continues to increase: over 94% of people have access in 2025, and over 87% in 2019. Least developed countries (LDCs), however, have only 33% of their people online. This is due to wider challenges such as lack of infrastructure, unaffordable services, and low digital literacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gender Divide Is Also Digital <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Global numbers show: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

77% of men are online 
71% of women are online <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A six-point gap may seem small, but in population terms, it represents tens of millions of women excluded from digital opportunities. The divide is widest in regions with limited infrastructure, like Africa and LDCs, where women remain least connected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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