Global Internet Users in 2026
The world has crossed a quiet milestone in 2026. DataReportal’s Digital 2027 report, published on 21 October 2026, counts 6.15 billion people using the internet at the start of October 2026. That equals 73.9% of the world’s population and more than 80% of everyone aged 16 and above. The reported gain over the past year is only 54 million new users (+0.9%), far below the 294 million added in last year’s report. The slowdown looks sharper than it is. Internet surveys must be run offline to reach non-users, so data arrives late and the latest year almost always gets revised upward.
The story behind the numbers is one of depth, not just reach. About 2.17 billion people remain offline, mostly in Southern Asia and Africa, and the barriers are cost, skills and relevance as much as infrastructure. At the same time, people who are online now spend their time differently: 85.2% of online adults used AI tools in the past month, 3.24 billion people use generative AI platforms, and Similarweb data shows total web traffic falling while mobile apps absorb more activity. This report updates every table from the 2025 edition with the newest figures from DataReportal, the ITU, GSMA Intelligence, Ookla and Statcounter.
Key Internet Usage Stats & Facts Worldwide 2026
| Key Metric | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total Internet Users Globally | 6.15 billion people (October 2026) |
| Global Internet Penetration Rate | 73.9% |
| Reported New Users in Past 12 Months | 54 million (+0.9%) |
| People Still Offline | About 2.17 billion (26.1%) |
| Penetration Among Ages 16+ | Above 80% |
| Largest Online Populations | China and India: 2.33 billion combined (about 38% of users) |
| United States Internet Users | 331 million (5.4% of global total) |
| Unique Mobile Phone Users | 5.86 billion (70.4% of population) |
| Smartphones in Use | 7.68 billion (89.6% of handsets) |
| Social Media User Identities | 5.81 billion (69.9% of population) |
| Generative AI Users | 3.24 billion (38.9% of population) |
| Mobile Share of Web Traffic | 59.03% (Statcounter, September 2026) |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, Manochi analysis, GSMA Intelligence, Ericsson, Statcounter (October 2026)
The headline number keeps growing, but at a slower reported pace. 6.15 billion internet users is up more than 10% from just below 5.5 billion in October 2023. DataReportal also stresses that the 0.9% annual gain is a reporting artifact. The figure it published for October 2024 was 5.52 billion, and data released since then puts that month at 5.92 billion, a revision of 400 million. If the same pattern holds, global adoption has likely already passed 75%, which would mean at least 6.24 billion users.
The device and platform numbers show how connected life has become. 5.86 billion people own a mobile phone, and 7.68 billion smartphones are in use, about 89.6% of all handsets. China and India together hold 2.33 billion users, close to 38% of everyone online, while the United States ranks third with 331 million. That means 94.6% of the world’s internet users live outside the US. Social media has reached 5.81 billion user identities, and 3.24 billion people now use generative AI tools, a group that did not exist at scale four years ago.
Global Internet Adoption Growth 2026
| Growth Metric | Value | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Total Internet Users | 6.15 billion | October 2026 |
| Reported Year-on-Year Growth | +54 million (+0.9%) | Past 12 months |
| Users in October 2023 | Just below 5.5 billion | Three years earlier |
| Revised Users, October 2024 | 5.92 billion (first reported as 5.52 billion) | +400 million revision |
| Reported Users Added Daily | About 148,000 | 54 million ÷ 365 (report math) |
| Penetration Needed for 75% | 6.24 billion users | About 90 million above published total |
| ITU Global Estimate | 6 billion (about 74%) | 2025, up 240+ million |
| ITU Penetration Trend | 53.9% (2019) to 73.6% (2025) | Six years |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, ITU Facts and Figures 2025 (October-November 2026)
Internet adoption growth in 2026 looks weak on paper and strong in context. The 54 million reported gain equals roughly 148,000 people a day, a fraction of the 805,000 daily figure in the 2025 report. DataReportal warns that representative research lags by years, so the real number is likely far higher. The ITU tells a faster story: its Facts and Figures 2025 report shows the world gaining more than 240 million users in 2025 to reach 6 billion, up from a revised 5.8 billion in 2024.
The two main sources now sit close together. DataReportal’s 6.15 billion and the ITU’s 6 billion differ by about 2.5%, which comes down to counting dates and methods. The ITU’s series shows how fast the climb has been: 53.9% of the world used the internet in 2019, versus 73.6% in 2025. Roughly three times as many people use the internet today as do not. DataReportal expects the offline count to fall below 2 billion within about 12 to 18 months.
Internet Penetration by Region and Country 2026
| Region or Country | Penetration or Count | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| China and India | 2.33 billion users | About 38% of global internet users |
| United States | 331 million users | 5.4% of the global total |
| Top-Connected Countries | 13 countries above 99% | Mostly Arabian Gulf and Northern and Western Europe |
| High-Adoption Countries | 80 countries above 90% | Includes most large economies above 80% |
| Africa (ITU 2025) | 36% | Rural Africa only 21% |
| Nigeria | 47.5% | GWI market with 96.6% AI use among users |
| Kenya | 40.6% | 97.3% AI use among internet users |
| Burundi | More than 90% offline | Only other country above 90% offline besides North Korea |
| Below 20% Adoption | 9 countries (plus Eritrea at about 20%) | Mostly low-income, young populations |
| Below Majority Use | 50 countries and territories | Concentrated in Southern Asia and Africa |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, ITU Facts and Figures 2025, GWI Q2 2026 (October 2026)
Internet penetration worldwide still splits along income lines. Thirteen countries report adoption above 99%, and 80 countries and territories sit above 90%. At the other end, 50 countries and territories have not reached majority use, and nine sit below 20%. North Korea ranks last because its rulers block the global internet for nearly all citizens, and Burundi is the only other country with more than 90% of people offline. The ITU puts Africa at just 36% penetration, with rural Africa at 21%.
Population structure explains part of the gap. In 18 of the world’s 20 least connected countries, more than half of residents are under age 20. Large markets sit in between. China and India account for 38% of users, and CNNIC data suggests well over 90% of China now qualifies for the ITU’s internet-use measure, even though 120 million people there are still offline. Nigeria (47.5%) and Kenya (40.6%) show strong growth potential, and both rank at the top of AI use among connected adults.
Digital Gender Gap Statistics 2026
| Gender Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Men Using the Internet | 77% | ITU Facts and Figures 2025 |
| Women Using the Internet | 71% | Six-point gap |
| Men Online Beyond Women | About 280 million | Gap has not narrowed since 2019 |
| Women’s Share of Adult Connectivity Gap | 58% | Low- and middle-income countries (GSMA 2026) |
| Largest Gaps | Low and lower-middle-income countries | Especially Africa and South Asia |
| Social Media Ad Data | Skewed by bot accounts | DataReportal caution on gender splits |
Data Source: ITU Facts and Figures 2025, ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025, GSMA State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026, DataReportal (October 2026)
The digital gender gap is stuck. The ITU finds 77% of men online against 71% of women, a six-point difference that translates to roughly 280 million more men than women using the internet. The gap is widest in low and lower-middle-income countries, especially across Africa and South Asia, where women are far less likely to be online. GSMA Intelligence adds that women account for 58% of the adult connectivity gap in low and middle-income countries.
Access, not interest, drives the difference. DataReportal notes that platform ad-reach figures show gender disparities on social media, but those profiles are likely distorted by bot and duplicate accounts. Even after allowing for that, differences in overall internet access remain the main reason behind uneven social media use by gender. GSMA’s barriers list explains why: affordability of phones and data, literacy, digital skills, safety concerns and restrictive social norms all hit women harder.
Rural vs Urban Digital Divide 2026
| Location Type | Internet Penetration | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Residents (Global) | 85% | ITU 2025 |
| Rural Residents (Global) | 58% | 27-point gap |
| Rural, Low-Income Countries | 14% | About three times lower than urban rate |
| Rural Africa | 21% | Nearly 4 in 5 rural Africans offline |
| Share of World Living in Cities | 80.6% | UN reclassification, November 2025 |
| Global Electricity Access | 91.6% | World Bank |
| Basic Drinking Water Access | 91.5% | World Bank |
Data Source: ITU Facts and Figures 2025, ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025, World Bank World Development Indicators, UN World Population Prospects (October 2026)
The urban-rural divide is the clearest line in the data. The ITU reports 85% of urban residents online versus 58% of rural residents, a gap of 27 percentage points. In low-income countries, only 14% of rural residents use the internet, roughly three times lower than the urban rate. In rural Africa the figure is 21%, so about four in five rural Africans remain offline. Nearly 96% of everyone still offline lives in low- and middle-income countries.
One data note matters for anyone comparing editions. In November 2025 the United Nations changed how it classifies urban and rural areas, so the share of people living in towns and cities now reads 80.6%, up from 58.4% in the 2025 edition of this report. The change is a classification shift, not mass migration. Basic infrastructure still shapes the connectivity gap: 91.6% of people have electricity and 91.5% have basic drinking water, which means universal access to even the fundamentals remains out of reach.
Internet Speed and Quality Statistics 2026
| Metric | Speed or Rank | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Global Median Mobile Speed | 109.73 Mbps | Ookla, July 2026 |
| Global Median Fixed Broadband Speed | About 200.12 Mbps | Ookla, July 2026 |
| Fastest Mobile Country | UAE: 644.66 Mbps | Ookla, March 2026 |
| Second Fastest Mobile | Qatar: 576.06 Mbps | Ookla, March 2026 |
| South Korea Mobile | 265.20 Mbps | Ookla, March 2026 |
| Fastest Fixed Broadband | Singapore: 425.46 Mbps (March); above 641 Mbps (July) | Ookla 2026 |
| France Fixed Broadband | 352.35 Mbps (March); 528.07 Mbps (July) | Europe’s fastest |
| Vietnam Mobile Rank | 10th at 205.58 Mbps | Ookla, July 2026 |
| United States Mobile Rank | 12th at 189.21 Mbps | Ookla, July 2026 |
| Slowest Fixed / Mobile | Turkmenistan 2.72 Mbps / Yemen 2.99 Mbps | Ookla, December 2025 |
Data Source: Ookla Speedtest Global Index (December 2025, March 2026, July 2026), as reported by DataReportal and Vietnam News
Internet speeds in 2026 reached new highs, but readings from different months do not line up neatly. Ookla’s published medians shifted sharply between March and July 2026, so the global figures of 109.73 Mbps for mobile and about 200.12 Mbps for fixed broadband should not be compared directly with the 90+ Mbps and 104.43 Mbps in the 2025 edition. Within a single month, rankings are still clear. The UAE (644.66 Mbps) and Qatar (576.06 Mbps) lead mobile, while Singapore leads fixed broadband.
The gaps remain extreme. Turkmenistan posted just 2.72 Mbps on fixed broadband and Yemen 2.99 Mbps on mobile in December 2025, while Singapore’s fixed median was more than 150 times higher in March 2026. Vietnam climbed ten places to 10th for mobile at 205.58 Mbps, ahead of the United States (189.21 Mbps) and China (179.80 Mbps). The ITU adds a quality measure: users in high-income countries consume nearly eight times more mobile data than users in low-income countries, and 5G subscriptions have reached about 3 billion, roughly one-third of mobile broadband connections.
Device Usage and Mobile Internet Dominance 2026
| Device or Access Metric | Statistic | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Users Going Online by Mobile | 96.2% | DataReportal, April 2026 |
| Unique Mobile Users | 5.86 billion (70.4%) | GSMA Intelligence, October 2026 |
| Smartphones in Use | 7.68 billion | Ericsson |
| Smartphone Share of Handsets | 89.6% | Roughly 85.8% of cellular connections |
| Laptop and Desktop Use | 53.8% of adult internet users | Larger economies, still declining |
| Using Someone Else’s Phone | 650 million people | GSMA Intelligence |
| Mobile Web Traffic Share | 59.03% | Statcounter, September 2026 |
| Desktop and Tablet Web Share | 39.18% and 1.75% | Statcounter, September 2026 |
| YouTube Ad Audience on Connected TV | 59% | CTV exceeds mobile in 22 of 87 countries |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2026 Mid-Year Update and Digital 2027 Global Overview, GSMA Intelligence, Ericsson, Statcounter (October 2026)
Mobile devices remain the gateway to the internet for nearly everyone. 96.2% of internet users go online by mobile phone at least some of the time, and smartphones account for 89.6% of handsets in use. Only 53.8% of adult internet users in larger economies still use laptops or desktops for some online activity, and that share keeps falling. Statcounter’s September 2026 figures give mobile 59.03% of web traffic, desktop 39.18% and tablets 1.75%, so tablets remain a niche for web browsing.
Shared access and larger screens complete the picture. GSMA estimates 650 million people reach the internet on someone else’s phone, such as a parent’s handset, which means mobile subscriber counts understate real use. On living-room screens, Alphabet’s data shows 59% of YouTube’s ad audience now watches on connected TV, and CTV viewers outnumber mobile viewers in 22 of 87 countries. DataReportal cautions that part of that rise may come from changes in how YouTube measures co-viewing rather than a sudden behavior shift.
Web Traffic and the Decline of the Open Web 2026
| Web Metric | Statistic | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Share of Web Traffic (Similarweb) | 57.5% | Q2 2026 |
| Top 10,000 Domains, Visits Since Nov 2022 | Down more than 10% | To Q2 2026 |
| Top 10,000 Domains, Visits (Two Years) | Down 6.8% | Q2 2024 to Q2 2026 |
| Time Spent on Top Websites | Down 11.2% | Past 24 months |
| Average Visit Duration | Just over 7.5 minutes | Down about 30 seconds in two years |
| Pages per Visit | 7.18 | Up almost 10% since Q2 2024 |
| Search Engine Visits | Down 4.3% | Two years |
| Visits to Sites Using AdSense | Down 14.8% | Two years |
| Mobile vs Desktop Visits | Mobile down 11%, desktop down under 1% | Two years |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, Similarweb Web Intelligence (October 2026)
The open web is shrinking even as internet adoption grows. Similarweb data shows monthly visits across the world’s top 10,000 domains are 6.8% lower than two years ago and more than 10% below the level when ChatGPT launched in November 2022. Total time spent fell 11.2% in 24 months, or 6.6 billion hours a month. Average visits now last just over 7.5 minutes, down about 30 seconds. Page views rose slightly to just under 3 trillion a month, so people view more pages per visit (7.18) but visit less often.
Mobile apps explain much of the shift. Mobile web visits fell 11% over the two years, while desktop visits dipped by less than 1%, and DataReportal sees native apps as the likely main driver rather than AI alone. Publishers carry the cost: visits to sites that use Google AdSense dropped 14.8%, and 18.7% when YouTube is excluded. Visits to search engines fell 4.3%, and GWI shows 80.3% of online adults used a search engine in the past month, down from 82.8% two years earlier.
Internet Affordability and Access Costs 2026
| Country or Metric | Cost or Share | Access Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Central African Republic | Cheapest 5GB plan: over 50% of monthly income | Fewer than 1 in 7 people online |
| Cuba | Over 25% of monthly income | Meaningful connectivity unaffordable |
| Burundi | Over 25% of monthly income | More than 90% of people offline |
| Countries Where 5GB Exceeds 10% of Income | 15 countries | ITU affordability analysis |
| Unconnected Adults Citing Device Cost | 68% | Low-income countries |
| New Smartphone Price Change | Up about 25% | Past year (Counterpoint Research) |
| Lowest Adult Literacy | Under 40% in Chad, Mali, Niger, Afghanistan | Digital skills barrier |
| Chad Female Literacy | 18.6% | Lowest in the world |
Data Source: ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025, World Bank, Counterpoint Research, DataReportal Digital 2027 (October 2026)
Internet affordability remains a decisive barrier. The ITU measures a 5GB monthly plan as the threshold for meaningful connectivity and finds it costs more than 10% of average monthly income in 15 countries. In the Central African Republic the cheapest plan costs more than half of monthly income, and only fewer than 1 in 7 people use the internet there. Cuba and Burundi both exceed 25%. The ITU’s top three reasons for staying offline are lack of need, lack of skills and high cost.
Devices are the first hurdle. 68% of unconnected adults in low-income countries say device cost is the main reason they do not own a phone. That matters because new smartphone prices have climbed roughly 25% over the past year, and DataReportal flags the AI boom’s demand for memory chips as a risk that could reverse recent gains in device affordability. Literacy compounds the problem: adult literacy falls below 50% in nine countries, and female literacy sits at 18.6% in Chad.
Offline Population Statistics 2026
| Group or Country | Offline Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Total | About 2.17 billion | 26.1% of the world (DataReportal); ITU says 2.2 billion |
| Southern Asia | About 1 in 3 of all offline people | 660+ million across the Indian subcontinent |
| China | 120 million | Third highest, despite 90%+ adoption |
| Ten Countries | More than half of all offline people | Five exceed 100 million each |
| Low- and Middle-Income Countries | About 96% of offline people | ITU 2025 |
| Offline Decline Forecast | Below 2 billion | Within 12 to 18 months (DataReportal) |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, ITU Facts and Figures 2025 (October 2026)
Offline populations in 2026 total about 2.17 billion people, close to the ITU’s 2.2 billion, and the number is slowly falling from 2.3 billion in the ITU’s revised 2024 estimate. Ten countries account for more than half of everyone unconnected, and five of them have more than 100 million offline residents. Southern Asia holds roughly one in three offline people, with more than 660 million across the Indian subcontinent. China still ranks third with 120 million offline.
The barriers differ by place but follow a pattern. Offline people are more likely to be rural, female, older or low-income, and 96% live in low- and middle-income countries. DataReportal forecasts the offline population will drop below 2 billion within 12 to 18 months at current growth rates. Reaching the remainder will take more than network coverage: GSMA data shows the usage gap, people covered by a signal who still do not use it, now exceeds the coverage gap in many markets.
Why People Go Online: Top Internet Activities 2026
| Online Activity or Destination | Share of Online Adults | Source Survey |
|---|---|---|
| Finding Information | Just under 60% | GWI Q2 2026 (67.4% in 2018) |
| Staying in Touch With Friends and Family | 57.2% | Second top motivation |
| Watching Videos, TV Shows or Movies | 52.9% | Third top motivation |
| Keeping Up With News | 51.1% | Down from 59.7% in 2018 |
| Using Social Networks | 94.5% | Monthly use |
| Using Messaging Apps | 94.1% | Monthly use |
| Using Search Engines | 80.3% | Monthly use |
| Using Email | 76.4% | Highest level in this dataset |
| Using Any AI Tool | 85.2% | Past month |
Data Source: GWI Q2 2026 via DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report (October 2026)
People still go online first to find information (just under 60%) and stay in touch (57.2%). Video ranks third at 52.9% and news fourth at 51.1%, down from 59.7% in 2018, a trend that matches the Reuters Institute finding that interest in news fell from 59% in 2021 to just under 46% in 2026. Destinations tell a slightly different story. Social networks (94.5%) and messaging apps (94.1%) top the monthly list, ahead of search engines (80.3%), email (76.4%) and shopping sites (75.9%).
AI would rank third if it appeared in the same question. GWI’s separate measure shows 85.2% of online adults used an AI tool in the past month, ahead of search engines. Online video also now beats television on reach: 92.1% of online adults watch online video weekly against 86.1% who watch any TV, and they spend 12 hours 5 minutes a week on online video against 9 hours 58 minutes on all forms of TV. Email is a quiet winner, with monthly use at 76.4% (86.6% outside China).
AI Use and Generative AI Adoption 2026
| AI Metric | Statistic | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Online Adults Using AI Monthly (GWI) | 85.2% | Q2 2026 |
| Extrapolated Global AI Users, Ages 16+ | 83.5% of internet users (4.1 billion people) | Manochi estimate; 49.5% of world population |
| Generative AI Platform Users | 3.24 billion (38.9% of population) | October 2026 |
| Annual Growth in GenAI Users | +1.2 billion (+57.2%) | October 2025 to October 2026 |
| Highest AI Use Among Internet Users | Kenya 97.3%, Nigeria 96.6% | GWI Q2 2026 |
| Lowest AI Use in GWI Survey | Ghana 35.8% | Online adults |
| AI Use, Ages 16-24 vs 65+ | 93.3% vs 52.2% | Age gap |
| AI for Brand Research vs Search Engines | 26.0% vs 45.3% | Purchase research |
Data Source: GWI Q2 2026, Manochi analysis, Similarweb via DataReportal Digital 2027 (October 2026)
AI has become part of normal internet use. Manochi estimates 3.24 billion people use generative AI platforms each month, equal to 38.9% of the world’s population and up 1.2 billion (57.2%) in a year. Counting all AI features, including search summaries and built-in assistants, 83.5% of internet users aged 16 and above use AI monthly, or more than 4.1 billion people. GWI separately tracks more than 1.1 billion monthly ChatGPT users among adult internet users in 53 major economies. DataReportal cautions that the GenAI figure may include duplicate accounts.
Adoption follows a surprising geography. Kenya (97.3%) and Nigeria (96.6%) lead among internet users, while richer markets in Europe and North America sit lower. Age matters most: 93.3% of online adults aged 16 to 24 use AI against 52.2% of those over 65. AI is also reshaping shopping. 26.0% of online adults use AI to research purchases, compared with 45.3% who use search engines, and the AI figure rose 6.5% in a single quarter.
Social Media Usage and Online Time 2026
| Social Media Metric | Statistic | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media User Identities | 5.81 billion | 69.9% of world population |
| Annual Growth | +151 million (+2.7%) | Slower after Meta account purges |
| Online Adults Using Social or Messaging Apps | 97.1% | GWI Q2 2026 |
| Weekly Time on Social and Video | 19 hours 18 minutes | Up 42 minutes in a year |
| Highest Weekly Time | Philippines: 36+ hours | 12 countries exceed 24 hours |
| Facebook, Self-Reported Use | 58.1% | Top platform by self-reported use |
| Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp | 56.6%, 56.2%, 54.9% | GWI self-reported monthly use |
| Weekly Online Video Watching | 92.1% of online adults | Versus 86.1% for any TV |
Data Source: DataReportal Digital 2027 Global Overview Report, GWI Q2 2026, Similarweb (October 2026)
Social media still grows, though more slowly. User identities reached 5.81 billion, up 151 million (2.7%) in 12 months, compared with 294 million the year before. DataReportal links the slowdown to Meta removing a meaningful number of accounts on Facebook and Instagram, which lowered reported reach in several countries. The share of the world’s population using social platforms sits at 69.9%, and the 70% mark should fall in early 2027.
Time spent is rising even as account growth slows. The average user spends 19 hours 18 minutes a week on social and video platforms, 42 minutes more than last year. Internet users in the Philippines average more than 36 hours weekly, and users aged 16 to 24 spend more than 24 hours, over three times the rate of those aged 65 and above. By self-reported monthly use, Facebook (58.1%) leads Instagram (56.6%), YouTube (56.2%) and WhatsApp (54.9%).
Youth and Senior Internet Adoption 2026
| Age Group | Internet or Technology Use | Notable Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 15-24 | 82% use the internet | ITU; versus 72% for everyone else |
| Ages 16-24 (AI Use) | 93.3% used AI in past month | 35.9% say AI improves daily life |
| Ages 16-24 (Email) | 78.9% use email monthly | Second highest age group |
| Ages 16-24 (Social Time) | 24+ hours weekly | 3x the rate of ages 65+ |
| Ages 65+ (AI Use) | 52.2% | 13.5% say AI improves daily life |
| Ages 75+ | Least connected group | ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025 |
| Ages 65+ (Brand Research Online) | 53.8% research purchases first | Highest among age groups |
| Ages 16-24 (Brand Research Online) | 44.2% | Lowest among age groups |
Data Source: ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025, GWI Q2 2026 and Q4 2025 via DataReportal (October 2026)
Age-based gaps remain large. The ITU reports 82% of people aged 15 to 24 use the internet, well above the 72% rate for everyone else, and people aged 75 and above are often the least connected. Young adults lead on AI (93.3% versus 52.2% for ages 65 and over) and on social time. Attitudes widen the gap: 35.9% of the youngest group say AI improves their daily life against 13.5% of retirees, and only 16.2% of those over 65 feel comfortable using AI.
Older users are not offline by habit. GWI’s Q4 2025 data shows 53.8% of internet users aged 65 and above research purchases online before buying, versus 44.2% of those aged 16 to 24. Search engines matter more to this group, which is more than four times as likely to use search for brand research as social media. In the youngest cohort, young internet users in low-income countries face heightened cost barriers, so youth adoption is high but unevenly distributed.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
