Two-thirds of humanity is online — and counting
The internet is one of the most powerful tools ever created, and each year more people gain access.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), around 5.3 to 5.4 billion people were online in 2023—about two-thirds of the world’s population. While some sources quote 5.4 billion (67 %), the ITU later revised this slightly to 5.3 billion (65 %). Either way, it marks an extraordinary rise in connectivity.
That still leaves about 2.6 to 2.8 billion people offline. Importantly, though, the challenge is less about network coverage—95 % of the global population now lives within reach of a mobile broadband signal (3G or higher). The real hurdle is turning that access into meaningful, affordable, and safe use. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin has emphasized that closing this “usage gap” is both urgent and achievable.
Big wins in digital infrastructure
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Undersea Cables: Google’s Equiano cable now connects Europe to Africa, with landing points in countries like Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa—delivering faster speeds and lower costs. Another massive system, 2Africa, is being built by a consortium including Meta. Once completed, it will be one of the largest undersea networks in the world, linking 33 countries across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
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5G Growth: Reports suggest that global 5G connections passed 1.5 billion in 2023 and may exceed 2 billion soon. (⚠️ This specific number comes from industry groups but hasn’t been fully verified.)
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Satellite Internet: Services like Starlink are expanding worldwide. Some reports claim coverage in 100+ markets, though this figure also needs firmer confirmation.
Together, these advances are giving people everywhere—from big cities to remote villages—better opportunities to learn, work, and innovate.
Connecting classrooms and communities
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The Giga Initiative (a partnership between UNICEF and ITU) has mapped over two million schools worldwide and is actively working with countries like Rwanda and Kenya to bring high-speed internet into classrooms.
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In Europe, the WiFi4EU program has funded thousands of municipalities to install free Wi-Fi in public spaces, helping citizens stay connected in libraries, parks, and town halls.
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In India, the BharatNet project is expanding fiber-optic broadband to villages, while in the 🇺🇸 United States, the government has committed $42 billion through the BEAD program to connect unserved homes and businesses.
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Civil society is also stepping up. The Internet Society, led by Andrew Sullivan, helps build community networks that give local groups in places like Kenya and Mexico the power to connect themselves.
Closing the gap: affordability, skills, and safety
Even with massive progress, challenges remain.
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Affordability: Internet data is still too expensive for many low-income households, though the cost of entry-level plans is falling in many regions.
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Skills: Digital literacy gaps—especially among women and rural populations—still limit adoption. Training programs and device financing are helping.
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Safety: From privacy protections to online trust, governments, platforms, and researchers are working to make the internet a safer place for all.
The story of the internet is overwhelmingly positive: billions of people are now connected, infrastructure is expanding faster than ever, and new initiatives are making access more affordable and useful. While gaps remain, the direction is clear: the digital divide is shrinking, and with it, new opportunities for education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship are opening up worldwide.
