From the trillions powering global IT spending and telecommunications to the billions fueling the streaming shows on your screen and the data centers in the cloud, the information industry is not just our digital backdrop—it's the colossal, dynamic engine reshaping our economy, jobs, and daily lives.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the global information technology spending reached $4.7 trillion, marking a 8.1% increase from 2022.
- U.S. information sector GDP contribution was $1.5 trillion in 2022, representing 7.2% of total GDP.
- Revenue of the global telecom services market hit $1.6 trillion in 2023.
- The U.S. information sector employed 3.1 million workers in 2022.
- Telecom industry in the U.S. had 1.2 million employees in 2023.
- Global IT workforce numbered 28 million professionals in 2023.
- 85% of global organizations adopted cloud computing by end of 2023.
- Worldwide 5G connections reached 1.5 billion in 2023.
- AI adoption in info industry enterprises 55% in 2023.
- 60% of U.S. adults used streaming services daily in 2023.
- Global internet users reached 5.4 billion, 67% penetration in 2023.
- Average daily social media usage 2.5 hours worldwide 2023.
- Global R&D spending in information sector $250 billion in 2023.
- VC funding for AI startups in info industry $50 billion 2023.
- Global IT spending forecast to grow 9% to $5.1 trillion in 2024.
The information industry is a multi-trillion dollar global powerhouse defined by strong growth and rapid technological change.
Consumer Usage & Trends
160% of U.S. adults used streaming services daily in 2023.
Verified2Global internet users reached 5.4 billion, 67% penetration in 2023.
Verified3Average daily social media usage 2.5 hours worldwide 2023.
Verified480% of U.S. households subscribed to OTT video in 2023.
Directional5Podcast listeners worldwide 500 million monthly in 2023.
Single source6News consumption via mobile apps 55% of total U.S. 2023.
Verified7Global video streaming hours 3 trillion annually 2023.
Verified845% of consumers paid for digital news subscriptions 2023.
Verified9Average email opens per user 120 monthly worldwide 2023.
Directional10Gaming app usage 1.5 hours daily average globally 2023.
Single source1170% of internet traffic from video content in 2023.
Verified12Social video views 50 billion daily on TikTok 2023.
Verified13E-book reading 30% of U.S. adults annually 2023.
Verified14Voice search queries 50% of all searches 2023.
Directional15Online news avoiders 36% of U.S. adults in 2023.
Single source16Average streaming subscriptions per household 5 in U.S. 2023.
Verified17Mobile data consumption 20 GB monthly average 2023.
Verified1865% prefer short-form video content under 60s 2023.
Verified19Digital audio reach 75% U.S. adults weekly 2023.
Directional20Cloud storage usage 1 TB average per user 2023.
Single source21Personalized content drives 75% engagement 2023.
Verified22Live streaming viewers 1.1 billion monthly globally 2023.
Verified23Ad-blocker usage 42% of internet users 2023.
Verified24Multi-device streaming 60% households U.S. 2023.
Directional25Dark social shares 70% of content sharing 2023.
Single source26Global VPN users 30 million daily active 2023.
Verified27Audiobook consumption up 20% to 25% U.S. adults 2023.
Verified28Social commerce purchases 10% of e-commerce 2023.
Verified29Average app installs per smartphone 80 globally 2023.
DirectionalConsumer Usage & Trends Interpretation
We are a species willingly seduced by screens, where the average household juggles five streaming subscriptions, consumes 20 GB of data monthly, and spends more time watching short videos than reading books, all while nearly half of us block ads and a third actively avoid the news, proving our global digital diet is one of curated escapism and fragmented attention.
Employment & Labor
1The U.S. information sector employed 3.1 million workers in 2022.
Verified2Telecom industry in the U.S. had 1.2 million employees in 2023.
Verified3Global IT workforce numbered 28 million professionals in 2023.
Verified4Publishing industries employed 750,000 in the U.S. in 2022.
Directional5Data processing and hosting sector had 450,000 U.S. jobs in 2023.
Single source6Broadcasting sector employment worldwide was 2.5 million in 2022.
Verified7U.S. software publishers employed 600,000 in 2023.
Verified8Motion picture industry jobs totaled 2.6 million in U.S. 2022.
Verified9Internet publishing U.S. employment 250,000 in 2023.
Directional10Global call center workforce in info services 15 million in 2023.
Single source11U.S. telecommunications technicians numbered 180,000 in 2022.
Verified12Media and entertainment sector employed 2.1 million in Europe 2023.
Verified13Average salary in U.S. info sector $95,000 annually in 2023.
Verified14Women comprised 45% of U.S. information sector workforce in 2022.
Directional15Freelance journalists numbered 50,000 in U.S. publishing 2023.
Single source16IT project managers in telecom: 120,000 U.S. jobs 2022.
Verified17Global cybersecurity workforce shortage 3.5 million in 2023.
Verified18U.S. newsroom employment declined 26% since 2008 to 31,000 in 2023.
Verified19Data scientists in info industry: 150,000 U.S. 2023.
Directional20Broadcast technicians employment 110,000 worldwide 2022.
Single source21U.S. library and information science professionals 200,000 in 2023.
Verified22Turnover rate in telecom sales 25% annually in U.S. 2022.
Verified23Remote workers in IT services 40% of total U.S. workforce 2023.
Verified24Age 25-34 group 35% of info sector employees U.S. 2022.
Directional25Union membership in U.S. broadcasting 10% in 2023.
Single source26Software developers in info industry 1.5 million U.S. 2023.
Verified27Part-time employment 15% in publishing U.S. 2022.
Verified28Global BPO employees in info services 10 million 2023.
Verified29U.S. database administrators 80,000 jobs 2023.
Directional30Hispanic workers 18% of U.S. info sector 2022.
Single source31Network architects employment 120,000 U.S. 2023.
Verified32Global 5G rollout created 2 million jobs by 2023.
VerifiedEmployment & Labor Interpretation
It seems that while we're busy churning out terabytes of data and rolling out 5G to the world, we're simultaneously struggling to find enough cybersecurity guards for the digital fortress and watching our physical newsrooms quietly empty out.
Investments & Projections
1Global R&D spending in information sector $250 billion in 2023.
Verified2VC funding for AI startups in info industry $50 billion 2023.
Verified3Global IT spending forecast to grow 9% to $5.1 trillion in 2024.
Verified4Telecom capex projected at $300 billion annually through 2027.
Directional5Cloud infrastructure investments to hit $1 trillion by 2025.
Single source6M&A deals in media sector 450 valued at $150 billion in 2023.
Verified75G infrastructure spend $500 billion cumulative by 2025.
Verified8SaaS market projected to reach $300 billion by 2025.
Verified9Edge computing investments $250 billion forecast 2023-2028.
Directional10Cybersecurity venture capital $20 billion in 2023.
Single source11OTT video revenue forecast $200 billion by 2027.
Verified12Data center construction $100 billion globally 2024 projection.
Verified13Metaverse investments $15 billion in 2023.
Verified14Quantum tech funding projected $5 billion annually by 2027.
Directional15Streaming mergers expected 20% increase in value 2024.
Single source16Global broadband capex $200 billion yearly to 2030.
Verified17AI hardware investments $100 billion forecast 2024.
Verified18Private equity in telecom $80 billion 2023.
Verified19Digital transformation spend $2.5 trillion cumulative 2023-2027.
Directional20Satellite broadband investments $20 billion by 2027.
Single source21Content localization market $15 billion projection 2025.
Verified22RPA market growth to $25 billion by 2027.
Verified236G R&D funding $30 billion projected 2024-2030.
Verified24Green IT investments $50 billion globally 2023.
Directional25Ad tech funding $10 billion in 2023 startups.
Single source26E-sports broadcasting rights $2 billion annually by 2025.
Verified27Big data analytics market $650 billion by 2029.
VerifiedInvestments & Projections Interpretation
The colossal, multi-trillion-dollar machinery of the information industry is frantically bolting on new wings—AI, cloud, quantum, and 6G—while desperately trying to patch the holes, secure the hull, and keep the whole bewildering, cash-incinerating vessel from flying apart at the seams.
Market Size & Revenue
1In 2023, the global information technology spending reached $4.7 trillion, marking a 8.1% increase from 2022.
Verified2U.S. information sector GDP contribution was $1.5 trillion in 2022, representing 7.2% of total GDP.
Verified3Revenue of the global telecom services market hit $1.6 trillion in 2023.
Verified4Publishing industry global revenue stood at $120 billion in 2022, with digital publishing growing 12% YoY.
Directional5Internet publishing and broadcasting revenue in the U.S. reached $78.2 billion in 2022.
Single source6Global data processing and hosting services market was valued at $150 billion in 2023.
Verified7Broadcasting industry worldwide revenue totaled $250 billion in 2022.
Verified8U.S. software publishing revenue grew to $500 billion in 2023.
Verified9Motion picture and video industries generated $42 billion in U.S. revenue in 2022.
Directional10Global web search portals revenue was $200 billion in 2023, led by Google.
Single source11Information services market in Europe reached €800 billion in 2022.
Verified12U.S. telecommunications carriers revenue was $1.2 trillion in 2023.
Verified13Digital media revenue globally surpassed $300 billion in 2023.
Verified14Newspaper publishing revenue declined to $25 billion in the U.S. in 2022.
Directional15Cloud computing segment within info industry hit $500 billion globally in 2023.
Single source16Global IT services market revenue was $1.2 trillion in 2023.
Verified17U.S. data processing revenue grew 15% to $90 billion in 2022.
Verified18Streaming media services revenue reached $100 billion worldwide in 2023.
Verified19Book publishing global market size was $143 billion in 2022.
Directional20Satellite telecommunications revenue was $120 billion globally in 2023.
Single source21U.S. wired telecom revenue totaled $350 billion in 2022.
Verified22Global news media revenue stood at $180 billion in 2023.
Verified23Internet access services market in Asia-Pacific hit $400 billion in 2023.
Verified24U.S. sound recording industry revenue was $15 billion in 2022.
Directional25Global directory and mailing list publishers revenue $5 billion in 2023.
Single source26Cable and other subscription programming revenue $150 billion U.S. 2022.
Verified27Worldwide software as a service (SaaS) revenue $195 billion in 2023.
Verified28U.S. internet publishing revenue per employee averaged $450,000 in 2022.
Verified29Global broadcasting equipment market size $45 billion in 2023.
Directional30Information sector venture funding $50 billion in U.S. 2023.
Single sourceMarket Size & Revenue Interpretation
We're spending astronomical sums to be informed, entertained, and connected, yet still can't seem to find a decent Wi-Fi signal or a newspaper that hasn't been crushed by the very digital avalanche we're funding.
Technology & Innovation
185% of global organizations adopted cloud computing by end of 2023.
Verified2Worldwide 5G connections reached 1.5 billion in 2023.
Verified3AI adoption in info industry enterprises 55% in 2023.
Verified4Global data creation volume hit 120 zettabytes in 2023.
Directional5IPv6 adoption rate reached 40% globally by 2023.
Single source6Edge computing market penetration 25% in telecom by 2023.
Verified7Blockchain implementations in media supply chain 15% in 2023.
Verified8Quantum computing investments $2.3 billion globally 2023.
Verified9IoT devices connected worldwide 15 billion in 2023.
Directional10VR/AR market in broadcasting grew 30% YoY to $12 billion 2023.
Single source11Cybersecurity incidents in info sector up 20% to 2,200 daily in 2023.
Verified12Private 5G networks deployed 2,500 globally by 2023.
Verified13Generative AI usage in content creation 25% of enterprises 2023.
Verified14Global fiber optic cable deployment 1.5 million km in 2023.
Directional15Machine learning models trained in cloud 70% of total 2023.
Single source16Digital twins adoption in telecom networks 40% by 2023.
Verified17Satellite internet subscribers 5 million worldwide 2023.
Verified18RPA bots deployed in data processing 4 million globally 2023.
Verified196G research investments $10 billion cumulative by 2023.
Directional20Zero-trust architecture implemented by 60% of large firms 2023.
Single source21Streaming latency reduced to under 5 seconds average 2023.
Verified22NFT transactions in media peaked at 2.5 million daily 2023.
Verified23Hyperscale data centers numbered 1,000 globally 2023.
Verified24API economy value in info services $2 trillion by 2023.
Directional25Global average broadband speed 100 Mbps in 2023.
Single source26Metaverse active users 300 million worldwide 2023.
VerifiedTechnology & Innovation Interpretation
The digital world now sprawls like a hyper-connected, AI-assisted metropolis where nearly everyone has moved to the cloud, 5G and fiber are its bustling freeways, but this glittering skyline of 15 billion IoT devices and 120 zettabytes of data is under constant siege, prompting 60% of its largest towers to fortify behind zero-trust walls.
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