Global Internet Users Hit 5.64 Billion as Mobile Dominates Online Access
According to the report, 5.64 billion people — 68.7% of the global population — are now online, with over 144 million new internet users added in the past year.
The latest Digital 2025 July Global Statshot report, published by DataReportal in partnership with We Are Social and Meltwater , reveals a rapid shift toward mobile-first internet use, social media expansion, and accelerated adoption of AI technologies worldwide.
According to the report, 5.64 billion people — 68.7% of the global population — are now online, with over 144 million new internet users added in the past year. Mobile devices dominate connectivity, accounting for more than 95% of internet access and generating 62% of all web traffic.
The study also highlights the explosive growth of social media usage, with 5.31 billion active social profiles — nearly two-thirds of the world’s population — and a surge in video consumption on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. On average, users spend more than six hours per week watching video content.
A notable trend is the integration of artificial intelligence into daily digital habits. Platforms such as ChatGPT now attract over five billion monthly visits, with 37% of Gen Z reporting usage within the last month. This reflects a broader shift in search behavior, with generative AI tools reshaping how people find and interact with information online.
The report also points to significant opportunities — and gaps. While digital adoption is accelerating globally, 2.57 billion people remain offline, concentrated largely in Southern and Eastern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing these connectivity gaps, the authors note, is key to achieving inclusive digital growth.
Digital advertising continues to see strong investment, with search ad spend exceeding $316 billion in 2024, up more than 12% year-on-year. The report links this growth to evolving consumer behaviors across e-commerce, video streaming, and mobile-first commerce.
The Digital 2025 July Global Statshot offers over 500 slides of insights into internet, social, and mobile trends. It emphasizes the urgency for businesses and policymakers to adapt strategies to a mobile, AI-driven digital future.
