Dataset Overview

This dataset provides a comprehensive overview of internet usage across countries as of 2024. It includes data on the percentage of the population using the internet, sourced from multiple organizations such as the World Bank (WB), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the CIA. The dataset covers all United Nations member states, excluding North Korea, and provides insights into internet penetration rates, user counts, and trends over recent years. The data is derived from household surveys and internet subscription statistics, offering a reliable snapshot of global digital connectivity.

Data Science Applications

This dataset can be used in various data science applications, including: - Digital Divide Analysis: Evaluate disparities in internet access between developed and developing nations. - Trend Analysis: Study the growth of internet penetration over time across different regions. - Policy Recommendations: Assist policymakers in identifying underserved areas and strategizing for improved connectivity. - Market Research: Help businesses identify potential markets for digital products or services. - Correlation Studies: Analyze relationships between internet penetration and socioeconomic indicators like GDP, education levels, or urbanization.

Column Descriptors

The dataset contains the following columns: 1. Location: Country or region name. 2. Rate (WB): Percentage of the population using the internet (World Bank data). 3. Year (WB): Year corresponding to the World Bank data. 4. Rate (ITU): Percentage of the population using the internet (ITU data). 5. Year (ITU): Year corresponding to the ITU data. 6. Users (CIA): Estimated number of internet users in absolute terms (CIA data). 7. Year (CIA): Year corresponding to the CIA data. 8. Notes: Additional notes or observations about specific entries.

Ethically Mined Data

The data has been sourced from publicly available and reputable organizations such as the World Bank, ITU, and CIA. These sources ensure transparency and ethical collection methods through household surveys and official statistics. The dataset excludes North Korea due to limited reliable information on its internet usage.

Acknowledgements

This dataset is based on information compiled from: - World Bank - International Telecommunication Union - CIA World Factbook - Wikipedia's "List of countries by number of Internet users" page

Special thanks to these organizations for providing open access to this valuable information, enabling deeper insights into global digital connectivity trends.

Citations: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_Internet_users [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_Internet_users

Annual data on internet usage in Great Britain, including frequency of internet use, internet activities and internet purchasing.

The global number of internet users in was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 1.3 billion users (+23.66 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the number of users is estimated to reach 7 billion users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of internet users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Depicted is the estimated number of individuals in the country or region at hand, that use the internet. As the datasource clarifies, connection quality and usage frequency are distinct aspects, not taken into account here.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of internet users in countries like the Americas and Asia.

Introduction

Internet Usage Statistics: The Internet's transformative journey, from its origins as a research project to its current global ubiquity, has revolutionized communication, information access, commerce, and entertainment.

Enabling instant connectivity, online shopping, streaming, remote work, and social interaction, the Internet has reshaped societal dynamics. However, it also presents privacy issues, cybersecurity threats, and digital disparities.

As technology advances, including mobile Internet, IoT, and AI, the future of Internet usage holds exciting possibilities and complex considerations, making it a crucial focal point in today's interconnected world.

A line chart that shows % of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, by age

Approximately **** percent of the United States' population accessed the internet as of October 2025, which has been consistent since 2023. The United States is one of the biggest online markets worldwide. Social media usage in the U.S. Social media usage in the United States has seen considerable growth in recent years, with forecasted users reaching as many as *** million in 2029. By the third quarter of 2024, internet users in the U.S. were spending around *** hours on social media out of seven hours of internet usage. The most common activities among U.S. users include sending private messages and liking posts or following people, which highlights widespread engagement with social media platforms among internet users in the United States. TikTok surge in the U.S. TikTok continues to be one of the most popular social media platforms in the United States. As of October 2025, the U.S. was the next biggest TikTok advertising audience, after Indonesia. This rise in popularity is the result of users's high engagement with short-form videos and quick entertainment, in which TikTok managed to capture users’ attention. In fact, each user in the United States spent over ** hours per month 2023.

Context :

This dataset provides an overview of global internet users by country between 2021 and 2024, derived from the Wikipedia page "List of countries by number of Internet users." The data includes the total number of internet users in each country, the percentage of the population using the internet, and the population of each country as of 2021. The data was collected from reliable sources like household surveys and internet subscription statistics, providing valuable insights into global connectivity trends.

This dataset can be used to explore digital penetration rates, compare internet adoption by region, and analyze how internet usage has evolved across countries over time. The motivation behind this dataset is to contribute to research on digital inclusion and global technology access.

The share of households with internet access in the European Union saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 93.09 percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the share of households with internet access in the European Union with 93.09 percent. The EU survey on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002 aiming at collecting and disseminating harmonised and comparable information on the use of ICT in households and by individuals. Data presented in this domain are collected on a yearly basis by the National Statistical Institutes and are based on Eurostat's annual model questionnaire. This questionnaire is updated each year to reflect the evolving situation of information and communication technologiesFind more statistics on in the European Union with key insights such as share of urban households with internet access, share of suburban households with internet access, and share of rural households with internet access.

The population share with internet access in the United States was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total *** percentage points. After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the internet penetration is estimated to reach ***** percent and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the population share with internet access of was continuously increasing over the past years.The penetration rate refers to the share of the total population having access to the internet via any means. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics. The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide. All input data are sourced from international institutions, national statistical offices, and trade associations. All data has been are processed to generate comparable datasets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

Discover key internet statistics, including global usage, user growth, connection speeds, device trends, and digital behavior. Stay informed!

A line chart that shows % of U.S. adults who say they use the internet

Overview:

This dataset contains synthetic daily internet usage records segmented across different age groups. It captures how users allocate their online time among social media, work or study, and entertainment activities. Additionally, the dataset includes information about the primary device used and the type of internet connection.

The dataset is clean, structured, and designed for beginners and intermediate users to practice exploratory data analysis (EDA), data visualization, and machine learning tasks.

Dataset Information: - Total records: 2,800 - Data type: Synthetic & anonymized - Personal data: Not included

Columns:

• user_id – Unique identifier for each user
• date – Date of internet usage record
• age – Age of the user
• age_group – Age category
• social_media_hours – Time spent on social media
• work_or_study_hours – Time spent on work or study
• entertainment_hours – Time spent on entertainment
• total_screen_time – Total daily internet usage
• primary_device – Device used
• internet_type – Internet connection type

Disclaimer:

This dataset is synthetically generated for educational and analytical purposes only. It does not contain real personal or sensitive information.

A line chart that shows % of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, by gender

The population share with mobile internet access in North America was forecast to increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 2.9 percentage points. This overall increase does not happen continuously, notably not in 2028 and 2029. The mobile internet penetration is estimated to amount to 84.21 percent in 2029. Notably, the population share with mobile internet access of was continuously increasing over the past years.The penetration rate refers to the share of the total population having access to the internet via a mobile broadband connection.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the population share with mobile internet access in countries like Caribbean and Europe.

In November 2021, it was found that Idaho had the highest online penetration rate among all the states in the U.S., as 88.6 percent of the state's population used the internet. Wisconsin and Illinois ranked second with 87.8 percent of online access in both states, while Oregon followed, with 87.4 percent.

Global Internet Usage Dataset: Trends, Analysis, and Insights (World Bank Data)

Dataset Overview

This dataset provides insights into global internet usage trends, sourced from the World Bank. It includes data on internet penetration rates across various countries, continents, and income levels. The dataset is beginner-friendly and ideal for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning projects.

Columns

• Country: Name of the country.
• Year: Year of the data.
• Internet_Users_Percentage: Percentage of the population using the internet.
• Region: Geographical region of the country.
• Income_Level: Income classification of the country (e.g., Low, Middle, High).

Potential Use Cases

• Analyze internet usage trends over time.
• Compare internet penetration rates across countries and regions.
• Perform clustering analysis to group countries with similar internet usage patterns.
• Forecast future internet usage trends using time-series analysis.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Upload the Dataset to Kaggle

1. Log in to your Kaggle account.
2. Navigate to the "Datasets" tab and click on "New Dataset."
3. Upload the refined CSV file (ITU_Internet_Use_Refined.csv).
4. Add the following details:
   • Title: Global Internet Usage Dataset: Trends, Analysis, and Insights (World Bank Data)
   • Description: Explore global internet usage trends with this beginner-friendly dataset. Analyze internet penetration rates across countries, continents, and income levels. Perfect for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning projects. Source: World Bank.
   • Tags: Internet Usage, Global Trends, Data Analysis, Machine Learning, World Bank, Beginner Dataset.
5. Publish the dataset and share it with the Kaggle community.

Citation

This dataset is sourced from the World Bank. Please cite as follows:

World Bank. (2026). ITU Internet Use Dataset. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org. Accessed on January 31, 2026.

License

This dataset is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. You are free to share and adapt the dataset, provided appropriate credit is given. For more details, visit Creative Commons License.

These charts show the increase in Internet usage over time for the whole world.

GapMinder collects data from a handful of sources, including the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the US Census Bureau’s International Database, the United Nations Statistics Division, and the World Bank.

Variable Name & Description of Indicator: * country: Unique Identifier * incomeperperson: Gross Domestic Product per capita in constant 2000 US$. The inflation but not the differences in the cost of living between countries has been taken into account. * internetuserate: Internet users (per 100 people). Internet users are people with access to the worldwide network. * urbanrate: Urban population (% of total) Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects)

More information is available at www.gapminder.org

As of 2023, 65 percent of the population in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) used the internet, compared to 35 percent of individuals living in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) while the internet penetration rate for those living in Landlocked Developing Counties (LLDCs) was at 39 percent. The global online access rate was 68 percent.

A line chart that shows % of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, by annual household income