An estimated 5.5 billion people, or 68% of the world’s population, were online in 2024, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). However, internet access remained a significant challenge in low-income countries, where only 27% of the population had connectivity.
The ITU’s “Facts and Figures 2024” report highlighted major disparities in access. Least developed countries (LDCs) reported internet access rates of 35%, while landlocked developing countries fared slightly better at 39%.
The ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said, “Facts and Figures 2024 is a tale of two digital realities between high-income and low-income countries. Stark gaps in critical connectivity indicators are cutting off the most vulnerable people from online access to information, education and employment opportunities.”
“This report is a reminder that true progress in our interconnected world isn’t just about how fast we move forward but about making sure everyone moves forward together.”
Globally, the number of people offline fell from an estimated 2.8 billion in 2023 to 2.6 billion in 2024, accounting for 32% of the world’s population.
In Nigeria, internet penetration reached 42.24% in October 2024, an increase from 41.56% in September, according to a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Despite this growth, Nigeria’s connectivity rate remains below the global average, underscoring challenges faced by low-income nations.
Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunications Development Bureau, said, “The world is inching towards universal access at a time that it should be sprinting.
“While we continue to make progress on connectivity, our advances mask significant gaps in the world’s most vulnerable communities, where digital exclusion makes life even more challenging.
“We must intensify our efforts to remove the barriers that keep people offline and close the usage gap and renew our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity so that everyone can access the internet.”
The ITU’s report stresses the need for collective global action to bridge the digital divide and ensure internet access for the most disadvantaged communities.
