The digital divide is the gap in internet access and use shaped by factors like age, education, income, gender, and where people live. In 2023, only 63% of the world used the internet, and that progress varies widely by region and household resources. Throughout this page, you’ll see which groups face the biggest barriers—especially older adults, people with low education, and those in rural or least developed settings—along with what those gaps mean for education, work, and services.
Key Takeaways
- Elderly (65+) internet use in US was 61% in 2021 vs 96% 18-29 year olds, Pew;
- Globally, 41% of over-65s offline in 2023 vs 15% under-25s;
- In Japan, seniors 70+ had 60% internet access in 2023 vs 99% young adults;
- Worldwide, women are 17% less likely to use the internet than men in 2023, affecting 300 million more women offline;
- In India, male internet users outnumbered females by 30% in rural areas (2023);
- Globally, gender digital divide closes in high-income countries but widens to 25% in LDCs, ITU 2023;
- As of 2023, 2.6 billion people globally, or one-third of the world's population, remain offline, with the digital divide exacerbating inequalities in education and economic opportunities;
- In least developed countries (LDCs), internet penetration stood at just 37% in 2023, compared to 92% in high-income countries, highlighting stark global disparities;
- Globally, 63% of the world's population used the internet in 2023, up from 53% in 2019, but growth slowed due to saturation in developed regions;
- In low-income households (under $20k/year), only 53% had home broadband in the US 2021, vs 90% in high-income ($100k+);
- Globally, households earning less than $100/month had 20% internet access in 2022, per World Bank;
- In India, bottom 20% income quintile had 24% internet penetration in 2023 vs 82% top quintile;
- In rural areas of developing countries, only 25% had internet access in 2023 versus 70% in urban areas worldwide;
- In India, rural internet penetration was 39% in 2023, compared to 70% in urban areas, per TRAI data;
- US rural broadband access lagged at 79% of households in 2022, versus 96% urban, according to FCC;
Across ages, genders, and incomes, billions still lack internet access, widening inequality worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age And Education Divide24 stats
01
Elderly (65+) internet use in US was 61% in 2021 vs 96% 18-29 year olds, Pew;
02
Globally, 41% of over-65s offline in 2023 vs 15% under-25s;
03
In Japan, seniors 70+ had 60% internet access in 2023 vs 99% young adults;
04
Low education (no high school) US adults 43% non-internet users vs 4% college grads (2021);
05
In Europe, adults with basic digital skills 58% in 2022, but only 20% for low-educated;
06
India illiterate adults had 12% internet use vs 75% graduates in 2023;
07
Brazil over-60s internet penetration 52% in 2023 vs 92% under-30s;
08
Globally, digital skills gap affects 2.7 billion lacking basic proficiency in 2023;
09
In Australia, 25% of over-65s lacked digital skills vs 2% youth (2022);
10
EU adults without upper secondary education had 40% lower digital participation;
11
In South Korea, seniors 65+ 78% internet vs 100% youth, digital literacy 45% low 2023;
12
UK over-75s 48% internet non-users vs 2% 16-24 2022;
13
In China, rural elderly internet 38% vs urban youth 99% 2023;
14
US Hispanic adults no high school diploma 25% offline vs 3% college 2021;
15
Globally, 52% adults lack basic digital skills, highest among low-education 80%;
16
Italy low-education adults 35% digital exclusion vs 5% high-ed 2023;
17
In Malaysia, over-60s 52% internet, basic skills only 30%;
18
Spain adults without secondary education 28% low digital competence 2022;
19
In Canada, seniors 65+ 92% internet but 35% lack confidence in use 2023;
20
France over-70s 62% access, digital skills 25% basic only 2022;
21
In Singapore, low-literacy adults 15% digital exclusion 2023;
22
South Africa no education 8% internet vs tertiary 95% 2023;
23
In Sweden, elderly digital participation 85% but skills gap 20%;
24
Ireland low-education 22% non-users vs 1% high-ed 2023;
Interpretation
Age And Education Divide Interpretation
Across both age and education, the divide is stark: in the US internet use among adults aged 65 and older was just 61% in 2021 compared with 96% for ages 18 to 29, and the pattern repeats with education where 43% of adults with no high school education were non internet users versus only 4% among college graduates.
02 · Category
Gender Divide26 stats
01
Worldwide, women are 17% less likely to use the internet than men in 2023, affecting 300 million more women offline;
02
In India, male internet users outnumbered females by 30% in rural areas (2023);
03
Globally, gender digital divide closes in high-income countries but widens to 25% in LDCs, ITU 2023;
04
In Pakistan, only 21% of women used internet vs 43% men in 2022;
05
Sub-Saharan Africa women 37% less likely to own mobile phones than men (2023 GSMA);
06
In Bangladesh, female internet penetration 42% vs 64% male in 2023;
07
US women in low-income brackets had 8% lower broadband adoption than men (2021 Pew);
08
Globally, women spend 20% less time online daily than men, per 2022 ITU;
09
In Jordan, 68% men vs 36% women used social media in 2023;
10
Mexico gender gap in internet use narrowed to 5% in 2023, but rural women lagged 15%;
11
In least developed countries, 70% of offline women cite lack of literacy as barrier vs 55% men;
12
In Morocco, women rural internet 19% vs 45% men rural 2023;
13
India gender urban gap 14%, rural 33% in 2023;
14
Globally, 257 million more men than women online in low/middle-income countries 2023;
15
Nigeria women 29% internet users vs 48% men 2023;
16
In Saudi Arabia, female mobile internet use 95% vs male 97%, but content access gaps persist 2023;
17
Ghana women phone ownership 72% vs men 88% 2023;
18
In Peru, rural women 25% online vs 42% rural men 2023;
19
Europe gender parity in internet use 98% for women vs 99% men, but skills gap 10%;
20
Globally, female digital exclusion costs $170B GDP loss annually 2023;
21
In Afghanistan, women internet 12% vs men 42% 2022;
22
Kenya women 42% mobile internet vs 58% men 2023;
23
In Algeria, urban women 52% vs men 68% online 2023;
24
Vietnam gender gap 4% overall but 12% rural 2023;
25
In peru, indigenous women 18% internet vs 35% men 2023;
26
OECD countries, women 2% less likely to have advanced digital skills;
Interpretation
Gender Divide Interpretation
Across gender digital divide indicators, women are consistently further offline than men, such as being 17% less likely to use the internet worldwide in 2023 and facing a much larger gap in LDCs where the divide widens to 25%, showing that gender inequity in access is both persistent and often sharper in lower-income settings.
03 · Category
Global Internet Penetration18 stats
01
As of 2023, 2.6 billion people globally, or one-third of the world's population, remain offline, with the digital divide exacerbating inequalities in education and economic opportunities;
02
In least developed countries (LDCs), internet penetration stood at just 37% in 2023, compared to 92% in high-income countries, highlighting stark global disparities;
03
Globally, 63% of the world's population used the internet in 2023, up from 53% in 2019, but growth slowed due to saturation in developed regions;
04
Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest internet penetration at 40% in 2023, while Northern Europe reached 98%, per ITU data;
05
By 2023, 96% of the global population lived within reach of a 3G mobile network, but only 65% had access to mobile broadband;
06
In 2022, 2.7 billion people lacked internet access, with 96% residing in developing countries, according to World Bank estimates;
07
Global fixed broadband subscriptions reached 1.55 billion in 2023, but penetration varied from 45 per 100 people in high-income countries to under 2 in LDCs;
08
Mobile broadband subscriptions hit 5.6 billion globally in 2023, equivalent to 69 per 100 people, yet unevenly distributed across regions;
09
In 2023, 85% of countries had national broadband plans, but implementation gaps widened the divide in low-income nations;
10
The global digital divide cost the world economy up to $1 trillion annually in lost GDP due to lack of connectivity, per 2022 UNCTAD report;
11
In 2023, 37% of global population in LDCs had no internet, primarily due to affordability;
12
Fixed broadband prices as % of GNI per capita averaged 1.5% in high-income vs 15% in low-income countries 2023;
13
5.4 billion people (67%) used mobile internet in 2023, but fixed lags in developing world;
14
Asia-Pacific internet users 2.9 billion in 2023, penetration 65%;
15
In 2023, 90% of high-income countries had >80% penetration vs 20% low-income;
16
Mobile money accounts 1.5 billion globally 2023, but digital divide limits in rural poor;
17
Africa internet growth 12% YoY 2023, still lowest at 43% penetration;
18
1.1 billion girls in low-income countries risk missing SDGs due to digital exclusion 2023;
Interpretation
Global Internet Penetration Interpretation
In 2023, although 63% of the world’s population was online and 96% lived within reach of a 3G mobile network, internet penetration still lagged far behind in poorer regions such as 37% in least developed countries and 40% in Sub-Saharan Africa, showing that the global digital divide is fundamentally an access gap, not just connectivity coverage.
More related reading
04 · Category
Income Based Divide24 stats
01
In low-income households (under $20k/year), only 53% had home broadband in the US 2021, vs 90% in high-income ($100k+);
02
Globally, households earning less than $100/month had 20% internet access in 2022, per World Bank;
03
In India, bottom 20% income quintile had 24% internet penetration in 2023 vs 82% top quintile;
04
UK low-income families (<£20k) broadband access was 82% in 2022, vs 99% high-income;
05
In Brazil, low-income (Class E) internet use was 41% in 2023 vs 95% Class A;
06
South Africa poorest 40% had 28% internet access in 2023 vs 89% richest 20%;
07
In the US, 23% of adults with incomes under $30k were smartphone-only internet users in 2021, Pew;
08
Globally, low-income countries' households spent 5-10% of income on broadband in 2022, unaffordable for 40%;
09
In Indonesia, lowest income decile had 15% broadband vs 75% highest;
10
France low-income (<€1k/month) internet access 78% in 2022 vs 99% high-income;
11
In Russia, low-income regions <30k RUB/month 45% access vs 95% high-income 2023;
12
Egypt bottom income quintile 18% internet vs 85% top 2023;
13
Turkey low SES (socioeconomic status) internet 72% vs 99% high 2022;
14
In Kenya, households <10k KES/month 25% connected vs 90% >50k 2023;
15
Argentina low-income barrios 35% broadband vs 88% affluent 2023;
16
In Thailand, poor households 40% internet vs 92% rich 2023;
17
Colombia income gap: lowest decile 28% vs highest 96% 2023;
18
In low-income US households, 29% rely on public WiFi only 2021;
19
Philippines poorest 20% 22% internet vs richest 95% 2023;
20
In Italy, southern low-income 65% access vs north 98% 2022;
21
Bangladesh bottom quintile 16% vs top 88% 2023;
22
In Greece, low-income pensioners 55% offline 2023;
23
Peru low SES 32% broadband vs 91% high 2023;
24
In UAE, low-income expat workers 68% access vs 99% citizens 2023;
Interpretation
Income Based Divide Interpretation
Across income-based digital divide groups, access to the internet drops sharply as household earnings fall, such as in the US where broadband is 53% for low-income homes under $20k compared with 90% for high-income homes over $100k.
05 · Category
Urban Rural Divide23 stats
01
In rural areas of developing countries, only 25% had internet access in 2023 versus 70% in urban areas worldwide;
02
In India, rural internet penetration was 39% in 2023, compared to 70% in urban areas, per TRAI data;
03
US rural broadband access lagged at 79% of households in 2022, versus 96% urban, according to FCC;
04
In Brazil, 65% of rural households lacked fixed broadband in 2022, double the urban rate of 32%;
05
China's rural internet users grew to 3.09 billion in 2023, but penetration was 59% rural vs 92% urban;
06
In Sub-Saharan Africa, rural mobile broadband coverage was 45% in 2023, compared to 85% urban;
07
EU rural areas had 89% broadband coverage in 2022, but speeds averaged 20% slower than urban;
08
In Mexico, 70% of rural population lacked high-speed internet in 2023, per INEGI;
09
Australia's rural broadband access was 88% in 2023, but NBN speeds in remote areas averaged under 25Mbps vs 100Mbps urban;
10
In Nigeria, only 22% of rural dwellers had internet access in 2023 vs 58% urban, GSMA reported;
11
Latin America urban-rural broadband gap 50% in coverage 2023;
12
In South Africa, rural fixed broadband penetration 5% vs 40% urban 2023;
13
Indonesia rural internet 48% vs urban 78% in 2023;
14
Canada rural high-speed internet 83% coverage but 20% adoption gap 2023;
15
Philippines rural connectivity 55% vs 90% urban broadband 2023;
16
In Germany, rural broadband speeds 15% below urban average 2022;
17
Vietnam rural internet households 65% vs 95% urban 2023;
18
In Ethiopia, rural mobile coverage 60% but broadband 10% 2023;
19
Chile rural fiber optic 70% vs urban 95% 2023;
20
In Poland, rural NGA coverage 85% but uptake 60% vs urban 95%;
21
Uganda rural internet 21% vs urban 62% 2023;
22
In New Zealand, remote Maori communities 75% access gap 2023;
23
Turkey rural broadband 72% coverage, 45% adoption 2023;
Interpretation
Urban Rural Divide Interpretation
Across the Urban Rural Divide, rural areas consistently lag far behind cities, with internet access ranging from just 25% in rural developing regions versus 70% in urban areas worldwide in 2023.
report visual · Breakdown
Digital divide: connectivity gaps by age
Older adults are far less likely to be online than younger groups across countries, widening the digital divide.
61%
Elderly (65+) internet use in US was 61% in 2021 vs 96% 18-29 year olds, Pew;
39%
In India, rural internet penetration was 39% in 2023, compared to 70% in urban areas, per TRAI data;
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Digital Divide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/digital-divide-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Digital Divide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/digital-divide-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Digital Divide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/digital-divide-statistics.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level