The internet has become an indispensable part of our lives, transforming
how we communicate and access information. As we look ahead, the
internet’s influence is set to surge even further.
According to estimations [1] by the Atlas VPN team, the number of
internet users is projected to surpass 6 billion within the next five
years.
As of 2023, there are approximately 5.16 billion internet users
globally, accounting for 64.4% of the world’s population. By 2028, this
number is expected to rise by nearly a fifth (19%) and reach 6.13
billion.
These estimations are based on historic internet user data provided by
DataReportal [2].
Internet user numbers and penetration rates vary widely around the
globe. Developed countries typically boast internet penetration rates of
over 80%, while those with less advanced cyberspace can hover below 50%.
Surprisingly, the top 20 countries alone account for a staggering 3.67
billion internet users, representing 71% of the world’s total.
China currently leads the world in terms of the largest internet user
population, with 1.05 billion users, comprising over 20% of the total
global internet users. Overall,73.7% of China’s population has internet
access.
India, the second most populous country as of January 2023, holds the
second spot on the list with 692 million internet users. However, only
about 48.7% of India’s population has internet access, ranking it below
the world’s average. In fact, India has the highest number of
unconnected people worldwide, with over 730 million individuals lacking
internet access.
Next on the list is the United States (US), with 311.3 million internet
users, which translates to approximately 91.8% of its population having
internet access.
The US is followed by Indonesia and Brazil, with 212.9 million and 181.8
million internet users, respectively. 77% of Indonesia’s population has
internet access, while Brazil’s rate is slightly higher at 84.3%.
Brazilians also rank second in terms of time spent online [3].
Other countries in the top ten include Russia (127.6 million), Nigeria
(122.5 million), Japan (102.5 million), Mexico (100.6 million), and the
Philippines (85.16 million).
The digital future
As the number of internet users continues to climb steadily and
technology evolves exponentially, the digital landscape is poised for
profound transformations, ushering in new opportunities and challenges
that will shape the future of our interconnected world.
As the number of internet users grows, so do the risks associated with
data privacy and cybersecurity. Cyber threats, data breaches, and
identity theft are increasingly prevalent in a hyper-connected world.
Not surprisingly, most Americans regard cyberterrorism as the most
pressing danger to the United States, according to a Gallup poll [4] on
world affairs.
