The ranking of internet costs in various countries shows significant differences, driven by economic, political, and infrastructure factors.

In 2023, the lowest mobile internet price in Central and Eastern European countries was paid in Russia and Ukraine. Moldova ranked ** in a list of *** countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. The cost of 1GB amounted to **** U.S. dollars. For comparison, Latvia has the most expensive mobile Internet in the CEE region - **** U.S. dollars per one gigabyte.

In 2023, the highest mobile internet price among the presented Eastern European and Central Asian countries had to be paid in Turkmenistan. More specifically, the cost of one gigabyte (GB) of mobile data in the country equaled to ***** U.S. dollars. To compare, internet users in Tajikistan had to pay **** U.S. dollars per one GB of mobile data in the same period.

This dataset contains country-level internet usage data from 2000 to 2023. It provides the percentage of the population using the internet in different countries over time. This data can be useful for analyzing global internet penetration, digital adoption trends, and technological growth across regions.

🔹 Dataset Information:

• Country Name & Code – Identifies each country.
• Yearly Internet Usage (%) – The percentage of the population using the internet from 2000 to 2023.
• Missing Values (No Data) – Some countries may have missing data for certain years.

📈 Potential Use Cases:

• Trend Analysis: Explore how internet usage has evolved globally.
• Regional Comparisons: Compare internet adoption across countries and continents.
• Machine Learning Applications
  • Time-Series Forecasting – Predict future internet usage trends using models like ARIMA, LSTM, or Prophet.
  • Clustering & Segmentation – Group countries based on their internet adoption rates using k-means or hierarchical clustering.
  • Feature Engineering – Use internet penetration as a predictor in socio-economic or technological development models.

📌 Source:

Modified from this source World bank group data

This dataset is valuable for data visualization, time-series analysis, and policy-making research related to digital growth.

This dataset provides detailed insights into the pricing of 1GB of mobile data across various regions and countries. It includes average prices in local and USD-equivalent currencies, conversion rates, and detailed pricing data for the cheapest and most expensive packages. The dataset is invaluable for economic research, telecommunications analysis, and global price comparison studies.

The data captures the pricing variability across different continents and regions and provides frozen exchange rates as of July 9, 2023, ensuring consistent comparison. With over 5,600 packages analyzed, the dataset also includes global aggregates such as the average package price worldwide, the most expensive and cheapest 1GB globally, and the total number of countries studied.

In 2023, Russia ranked first by the economic impact of internet shutdowns in the country. The restrictions placed by the government cost 4.02 billion U.S. dollars in the measured year. Internet users in Myanmar endured a total of 18,768 hours of shutdowns, which affected 23.7 million users and had an economic impact of approximately 974 million U.S. dollars. Brazil had the largest population impacted by the internet shutdowns. Online shutdowns and blackouts are generally seen as an indicator of low internet freedom.

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.

This dataset shows the cost, duration and number of people affected by government-imposed internet outages in 25 countries in 2023. It also provides information on any additional human rights abuses perpetrated during each internet shutdown.

Worldwide mobile data pricing: The cost of 1GB of mobile data in 228 countries

Data from 5,554 mobile data plans in 228 countries were gathered and analysed by Cable.co.uk between 3 February and 25 February 2020. The average cost of one gigabyte (1GB) was then calculated and compared to form a worldwide mobile data pricing league table.

Source

https://www.cable.co.uk/mobiles/worldwide-data-pricing/#resources

Image Source

Zimbabwe had the most expensive mobile internet in Africa as of 2023. One gigabyte cost on average ***** U.S. dollars in the African country, the highest worldwide. Overall, the cost of mobile data varied significantly across the continent. South Sudan and the Central African Republic also recorded elevated prices for mobile data, positioning among the ** countries with the highest prices for data globally. By contrast, one gigabyte cost **** U.S. dollars in Malawi, the lowest average price registered in Africa. Determinants for high pricing On average, one gigabyte of mobile internet in Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to **** U.S. dollars in 2023, one of the highest worldwide, according to the source. In Northern Africa, the price for mobile data was far lower, **** U.S. dollars on average. Few factors influence the elevated prices of mobile data in Africa, such as high taxation and the lack of infrastructure. In 2021, around **** percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived within a range of ** kilometers from fiber networks. Mobile connectivity Over *** million people are estimated to be connected to the mobile internet in Africa as of 2022. The coverage gap has decreased in the continent but remained the highest worldwide in 2022. That year, ** percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived in areas not covered by a mobile broadband network. Additionally, the adoption of mobile internet is not equitable, as it is more accessible to men than women as well as more spread in urban than rural areas.

Among the selected Asia-Pacific countries, South Korea had the largest population share connected to mobile internet as of 2023, at 93 percent. In comparison, 23 percent of the population in Pakistan was connected to mobile internet in 2023.

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

Monthly price of standalone Fixed Broadband Internet Access offers, including value added tax, excluding the additional cost of telephony or cable line (if any). The minimum and median prices refer to the group of similar subscriptions offered by internet service providers. Offers are not weigthed with market shares, so the offers' median price cannot be interpreted as the median price paid by consumers. ### Notes If no data is present for a country, it is because no corresponding offers have been found on the national market. ### Original source Broadband Internet Access Cost (BIAC), annual studies for the EC realised by Van Dijk, covering EU 28 Member States as well as Canada, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, FYROM, Norway, State of California, State of Colorado, State of New York, Switzerland and Turkey.: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/study-retail-broadband-access-prices-2013-smart-20100038 ### Parent dataset This dataset is part of of another dataset: http://digital-agenda-data.eu/datasets/digital_agenda_scoreboard_key_indicators

Dataset contains 3 CSVs with data between 2013 - 2021 for 80+ countries. 1. GDP per capita 2. Average after-tax wages 3. Average monthly internet costs 4. Internet adoption as a %

Data comes from data.WorldBank.org and Numbeo.com

As of October 2025, **** percent of the population in Burundi lacked internet access, placing the country second worldwide in terms of offline population share. North Korea ranked first, with an internet penetration rate close to ****, as access to the global internet remains largely restricted for its citizens. Global internet freedom and access The degree of internet freedom varies drastically across countries, with some providing open access and others imposing significant restrictions. In 2024, Iceland was leading worldwide in terms of internet freedom, while Myanmar and China ranked the lowest in the world, with strict government surveillance and censorship. The struggle with limited internet access is particularly evident in Africa, which had the lowest internet penetration rates as of 2024. Global privacy concerns The limitations and restrictions to internet access around the world prove that internet users' privacy is extremely vulnerable. And those who have access to the web are somewhat aware of that. By the third quarter of 2024, around **** percent of internet users expressed concerns about companies misusing their data. This growing awareness of privacy risks is reflected in users’ behaviour. By June 2024, ***** in ***internet users worldwide had already taken measures to protect their online privacy. Additionally, many internet users reported taking further steps, such as enabling multi-factor authentication, for stronger privacy protections.

This dataset is about countries per year in Trinidad and Tobago. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, birth rate, and individuals using the Internet.

China Internet Service: Internet Penetration Rate: Rural data was reported at 65.600 % in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 63.800 % for Jun 2024. China Internet Service: Internet Penetration Rate: Rural data is updated semiannually, averaging 35.950 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.500 % in Dec 2023 and a record low of 7.400 % in Dec 2007. China Internet Service: Internet Penetration Rate: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Internet Network Information Center. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Information and Communication Sector – Table CN.ICE: Internet: Internet Market Size. Affected by the COVID-19, the data cut-off time for the 2019 is March 2020.

This dataset is about countries per year in São Tomé and Principe. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, fertility rate, and individuals using the Internet.

This dataset is about countries per year in Georgia. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, fertility rate, and individuals using the Internet.

Context

“International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Facts and Figures 2017 shows that great strides are being made in expanding Internet access through the increased availability of broadband networks. Digital connectivity plays a critical role in bettering lives, as it opens the door to unprecedented knowledge, employment and financial opportunities for billions of people worldwide,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

The ITU estimates that there were about 6 billion mobile subscriptions globally in the early 2010s. No technology has ever spread faster around the world. Mobile communications have a particularly important impact in rural areas. The mobility, ease of use, flexible deployment, and relatively low and declining rollout costs of wireless technologies enable them to reach rural populations with low levels of income and literacy.

Content

The data provides the number of fixed telephone, fixed broadband and mobile cellular subsctipions per 100 people, covering 264 countries between 1960 (where applicable) and 2015.

Acknowledgements

The data is provided by the World Bank, from the ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.

The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.