As of 2024, approximately 2.6 billion people globally, including 2.5 billion Nigerians, are still offline, which accounts for 32% of the world’s population.
This figure is an improvement from 2023, which had 2.8 billion people offline.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that 5.5 billion people are now online, an increase of 227 million from the previous year.
Despite this growth in connectivity, the report highlights ongoing challenges, particularly in low-income nations where achieving widespread internet access remains difficult.
ITU’s “Facts and Figures 2024” reveals that while 68% of the global population is online, a significant digital divide persists.
High-income countries boast internet penetration of 93%, while in low-income countries, this number drops to just 27%.
The report stresses the importance of addressing these inequalities to ensure that vulnerable populations can access crucial information, education, and employment opportunities.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, noted, “This report underscores the need for progress not just in speed but in ensuring equal digital access for everyone, especially in low-income countries.”
The report also reveals that connectivity challenges remain high in the least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), where internet access is below 40%.
In Nigeria and other African nations, efforts to bridge the connectivity gap continue.
The ITU calls for more focus on overcoming barriers to internet access, which are essential for achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.
The report also highlighted the gradual movement toward gender parity in internet usage, with 70% of men online versus 65% of women.
However, the gender gap remains significant in developing regions. Additionally, urban areas continue to have higher internet usage, with 83% of urban populations online, compared to just 48% in rural areas. Of the 2.6 billion people offline globally, nearly 1.8 billion live in rural settings.
Younger people are more likely to be online, with 79% of individuals aged 15-24 using the internet, though the gap between generations is narrowing.
However, affordability remains a significant issue, with the cost of fixed broadband in low-income countries equating to nearly a third of the average monthly income.
In terms of mobile phone ownership, 80% of people globally over the age of 10 own a mobile phone, but this number varies significantly across income levels.
In high-income economies, more than 95% own a mobile, while only 56% of people in low-income countries do.
The expansion of 5G is also uneven, with high-income countries seeing 84% coverage, compared to only 4% in low-income nations.
Overall, while global internet access is growing, substantial efforts are still needed to close the digital divide, especially in low-income and rural areas.
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