By 2025, the average internet user is clocking 6 hours 37 minutes online each day, while cloud traffic is expected to top 100 zettabytes per year. The surprise is how many of the same demand signals are pushing in different directions at once, from video making up 43% of mobile data to IPv6 routing and encryption that keep reshaping the network behind the scenes.
Key Takeaways
- 3.5 billion active social media users were recorded in 2020, which corresponded to about 44% of the world population (a key driver of internet traffic demand)
- Social media users reached 4.26 billion in 2021 (about 53.6% of the world population)
- Social media users reached 4.74 billion in 2022 (about 59% of the world population)
- Global cloud traffic is projected to reach 100+ zettabytes per year by 2024 (cloud workloads as a large share of internet traffic)
- Global public cloud revenue is forecast to reach about $1.3 trillion by 2025
- Global public cloud revenue is forecast to reach about $679.8 billion in 2024
- Global IP traffic reached about 4.1 zettabytes per year by 2021 (Cisco VNI)
- Average global mobile network speed was 39.5 Mbps download in January 2024 (Speedtest Global Index)
- Average global fixed broadband download speeds were 186.15 Mbps in Q4 2023 (Speedtest Global Index)
- TLS/SSL encryption covered 96% of websites in 2023 (Netcraft)
- Netcraft recorded 99% HTTPS coverage for top sites in 2023 (Netcraft web server survey)
- DNS over HTTPS (DoH) usage increased to about 20% of browser traffic in 2023 (industry measurement)
- RIPE NCC reported 50.0 million IPv6 routes in 2023 (as reported in RIPE NCC statistics)
- 71% of global enterprises increased network bandwidth demand, a driver of traffic growth (IDC, 2023 survey) meaning measured demand pressure
- 1.0% of all IPv4 addresses are allocated to new assignments as of 2024 (IANA/IRR and RIPE-related status) meaning address space utilization impacting network expansion
With more than half the world online, faster networks and growing cloud and video traffic push global internet demand higher.
Related reading
Traffic Drivers
13.5 billion active social media users were recorded in 2020, which corresponded to about 44% of the world population (a key driver of internet traffic demand)[1]
Verified
2Social media users reached 4.26 billion in 2021 (about 53.6% of the world population)[2]
Verified
3Social media users reached 4.74 billion in 2022 (about 59% of the world population)[3]
Single source
4In 2024, the average internet user spent 6 hours 37 minutes per day online (global average)[4]
Verified
5Netflix streaming became available in 190 countries by 2023 (Netflix annual reporting; indicative traffic driver)[5]
Directional
6Instagram reached 2.0 billion monthly active users in 2023 (Meta reporting via earnings/press release)[6]
Directional
Traffic Drivers Interpretation
From 3.5 billion social media users in 2020 to 4.74 billion in 2022, with social media rising from about 44% to about 59% of the world population, Traffic Drivers are clearly being pulled forward by massive and accelerating audience adoption alongside steady online viewing habits like the 6 hours 37 minutes global average per day in 2024.
More related reading
Data Center & Cloud
1Global cloud traffic is projected to reach 100+ zettabytes per year by 2024 (cloud workloads as a large share of internet traffic)[7]
Verified
Data Center & Cloud Interpretation
Global Data Center and Cloud traffic is set to soar to 100+ zettabytes per year by 2024, showing that cloud workloads will become a major share of total internet traffic.
Market Size
1Global public cloud revenue is forecast to reach about $1.3 trillion by 2025[8]
Verified
2Global public cloud revenue is forecast to reach about $679.8 billion in 2024[9]
Verified
3Global IP traffic reached about 4.1 zettabytes per year by 2021 (Cisco VNI)[10]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
From a market size perspective, global IP traffic hitting about 4.1 zettabytes per year by 2021 signals the demand backdrop for cloud, as public cloud revenue is projected to climb to roughly $679.8 billion in 2024 and about $1.3 trillion by 2025.
More related reading
Performance Metrics
1Average global mobile network speed was 39.5 Mbps download in January 2024 (Speedtest Global Index)[11]
Verified
2Average global fixed broadband download speeds were 186.15 Mbps in Q4 2023 (Speedtest Global Index)[12]
Verified
Performance Metrics Interpretation
For the Performance Metrics category, global connectivity looks much faster on fixed broadband with an average 186.15 Mbps download in Q4 2023, compared with 39.5 Mbps on mobile in January 2024.
More related reading
Security & Reliability
1TLS/SSL encryption covered 96% of websites in 2023 (Netcraft)[13]
Verified
2Netcraft recorded 99% HTTPS coverage for top sites in 2023 (Netcraft web server survey)[14]
Verified
3DNS over HTTPS (DoH) usage increased to about 20% of browser traffic in 2023 (industry measurement)[15]
Verified
Security & Reliability Interpretation
In 2023, Security and Reliability gains were evident as TLS/SSL reached 96% of websites and 99% of top sites used HTTPS, while DNS over HTTPS climbed to about 20% of browser traffic, signaling stronger protection and more resilient name resolution.
Routing & Peering
1RIPE NCC reported 50.0 million IPv6 routes in 2023 (as reported in RIPE NCC statistics)[16]
Verified
Routing & Peering Interpretation
In the Routing and Peering landscape, RIPE NCC’s 50.0 million IPv6 routes reported for 2023 signals a rapidly expanding set of networks that must interconnect through routing infrastructure.
More related reading
Industry Trends
171% of global enterprises increased network bandwidth demand, a driver of traffic growth (IDC, 2023 survey) meaning measured demand pressure[17]
Verified
21.0% of all IPv4 addresses are allocated to new assignments as of 2024 (IANA/IRR and RIPE-related status) meaning address space utilization impacting network expansion[18]
Verified
343% of global mobile data traffic is video (Ericsson Mobility Report, 2023) meaning video’s share in mobile data[19]
Verified
457% of enterprise workloads are expected to be hosted in public cloud by 2024 (Gartner, 2021 forecast, commonly cited for public cloud share) meaning workload mix impacting traffic[20]
Verified
5Cloudflare observed 100+ Tbps DDoS attacks on record in 2024 (Cloudflare Security Report, 2024) meaning mitigation/attack-driven traffic events[21]
Verified
6IPv6 reachability reached about 60% on average for mobile networks in 2024 (Google IPv6 statistics) meaning mobile IPv6 rollout level[22]
Verified
7HTTP/3 (QUIC) usage exceeded 10% of all traffic among surveyed websites in early 2024 (Cloudflare web performance/HTTP/3 adoption statistics) meaning modern transport usage share[23]
Single source
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends point to a fast-evolving traffic landscape as video leads with 43% of global mobile data, enterprises push bandwidth with 71% reporting increased demand, and modern cloud and security dynamics accelerate growth through public cloud hosting and record 100+ Tbps DDoS events in 2024.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
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
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Global Internet Traffic Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-internet-traffic-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Global Internet Traffic Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-internet-traffic-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Global Internet Traffic Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-internet-traffic-statistics.
References
- 1datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-global-overview-report
- 2datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-global-overview-report
- 3datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-global-overview-report
- 4datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-global-overview-report
- 5about.netflix.com/en/news/
- 6about.meta.com/news/
- 7cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index/vni-hyperconnectivity/A%20Year%20in%20Review%20%28Cisco%20VNI%201%20H2%202023%29.pdf
- 10cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/white-paper-c11-741490.html
- 8idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS49629422
- 9idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS49832423
- 17idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US51222923
- 11speedtest.net/global-index
- 12speedtest.net/global-index?day=2024-01-01
- 13news.netcraft.com/archives/2023/07/18/ssl-encryption-on-netcraft-web-server-survey-2023.html
- 14news.netcraft.com/archives/2024/01/18/https-coverage-in-netcraft-web-server-survey-2023.html
- 15ripe.net/about-us/press/ripe-ncc-memo/dns-over-https-domination/
- 16ripe.net/about-us/press/announcements/ripe-ncc-2023-annual-report
- 18iana.org/numbers
- 19ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report/reports/november-2023/video-the-dominant
- 20gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-02-15-gartner-forecast-worldwide-public-cloud-end
- 21cloudflare.com/learning/security/threats/
- 23cloudflare.com/learning/performance/http3/
- 22google.com/intl/en/ipv6/statistics.html