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The internet has gone from a research network to the infrastructure behind modern life—work, communication, entertainment, shopping, education, banking, and public services. But “internet usage” isn’t just about how many people are online. It’s also about how much time people spend connected, how quickly adoption is growing, and how big the remaining digital divide is.
This post updates the most important internet usage statistics using current, reputable sources (especially ITU, DataReportal, Netcraft, and Verisign). Older numbers are included only when they provide useful historical context—and they’re clearly labeled by year.
Internet Usage Stats (Latest Available)
- ~6.0 billion people use the internet (2025 estimate)
- ~74% of the world’s population is online (2025 estimate)
- ~2.2 billion people remain offline (2025 estimate)
- ~6h 38m average daily time online (2025: mobile + computer)
- ~1.377 billion sites across ~295.1 million domains (Netcraft, Jan 2026)
- 386.9 million domain name registrations (Verisign DNIB, Q4 2025)
Key Metrics Table
| Metric | Value | Year / Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| People using the internet | ~6.0B | 2025 | ITU Facts & Figures 2025 |
| Global internet penetration | ~74% | 2025 | ITU Facts & Figures 2025 |
| People still offline | ~2.2B | 2025 | ITU Statistics Update (Dec 2025) |
| Avg. daily time online (mobile) | 3h 46m | Start of 2025 | DataReportal Digital 2025 |
| Avg. daily time online (computer) | 2h 52m | Start of 2025 | DataReportal Digital 2025 |
| Websites counted in survey | 1,376,952,390 | Jan 2026 | Netcraft Web Server Survey |
| Domains counted in survey | 295,088,466 | Jan 2026 | Netcraft Web Server Survey |
| Total domain registrations (all TLDs) | 386.9M | Q4 2025 | Verisign DNIB |
How Many People Use the Internet?
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that about 6 billion people were using the internet in 2025—roughly 74% of the global population. That still leaves about 2.2 billion people offline.
- Internet users: ~6.0B (2025)
- Global penetration: ~74% (2025)
- Offline population: ~2.2B (2025)
Source: ITU Facts & Figures 2025
How Much Time Do People Spend Online Each Day?
Daily online time varies by country and age group, but global benchmarks are still useful for understanding behavior at scale. DataReportal’s Digital 2025 report (drawing on GWI data) found that internet users spend:
- 3 hours 46 minutes per day using the internet on mobile
- 2 hours 52 minutes per day using the internet on computers
Together that’s roughly 6 hours 38 minutes per day across mobile + computer usage.
Source: DataReportal Digital 2025
The Digital Divide: Where Connectivity Still Lags
Even with adoption climbing, access remains uneven by region and income level. ITU’s 2025 figures show that internet use is close to universal in some regions but much lower in others. For example, ITU reports internet use between 88% and 93% in the Americas, Europe, and the CIS, while Africa averages 36% (2025).
Source: ITU Facts & Figures 2025
How Many Websites Are on the Internet?
“Number of websites” is tricky because the internet includes parked domains, inactive sites, and many pages that never appear in public surveys. One widely cited benchmark is Netcraft’s Web Server Survey, which counts sites responding to its measurements.
- 1,376,952,390 sites across 295,088,466 domains (Netcraft, January 2026)
Source: Netcraft January 2026 Web Server Survey
How Many Domain Names Are Registered?
Verisign’s Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) is a primary source for global domain registration totals. DNIB reported:
- 386.9 million domain name registrations across all TLDs (end of Q4 2025)
Source: Verisign DNIB (Q4 2025)
Historical Internet Usage Stats (Kept for Context)
- ~400 million internet users (2000)
- 5.5 billion people online (2024; ~68% of world population)
- 5.0–5.56 billion online (2022–start of 2025 estimates vary by source and methodology)
Source: ITU Facts & Figures 2024 (internet use)
FAQ
How many people use the internet today?
ITU estimates that about 6 billion people used the internet in 2025 (about 74% of the world’s population).
How many people are still offline?
ITU estimates about 2.2 billion people remained offline in 2025.
How long do people spend online each day?
DataReportal’s Digital 2025 report indicates about 6 hours 38 minutes per day across mobile (3h 46m) and computers (2h 52m), on average.
How many websites are on the internet?
There’s no single perfect count, but Netcraft’s January 2026 survey reported responses from ~1.377 billion sites across ~295.1 million domains.
How many domain names are registered?
Verisign’s DNIB reported 386.9 million domain name registrations across all TLDs at the end of Q4 2025.
Sources
