Despite this growth, 2.2 billion people still lack access to digital technologies, indicating significant challenges related to ensuring equal access to the internet.
The report emphasizes that the level of digital development is closely linked to economic indicators, gender disparities, and geographical location. In high-income countries, 94 percent of the population are internet users, while in low-income countries, this figure is only 23 percent. The most vulnerable groups remain in poor and developing regions.
Data shows that men are more likely to have internet access compared to women (77% vs. 71%), and urban residents are connected to the network significantly more often than rural residents (85% vs. 58%). The highest online engagement is observed among youth aged 15 to 24: 82 percent of them actively use the internet, while among other age groups, this figure is 72 percent.
The report also presents data for the first time on the number of subscriptions to 5G networks, which reach about 3 billion, accounting for one-third of all mobile connections. These networks cover 55 percent of the world's population; however, access is unevenly distributed: 84 percent of residents in high-income countries have access to 5G, while in low-income countries, this percentage is only 4. Users from developed countries generate nearly eight times more mobile traffic than residents of less affluent regions, highlighting the existing gap in access quality.
Internet accessibility also remains an important issue. Although the average cost of mobile internet has decreased, in 60 percent of low- and middle-income countries, it is still unaffordable for a significant portion of the population. Furthermore, most users possess only basic digital skills, while more advanced skills, such as content creation and online security maintenance, are developing more slowly.
