From 4.3M to 5.6B, the number of individuals using the internet globally since the creation of the first website has risen by over 130,000%

Key takeaways:

  • Between 1995 and 2000, internet users jumped from 39.4 million to 394 million, a 900% leap that marked the beginning of the digital era.
  • Just 14 years after the first website, over 1 billion people were online, showing how quickly the internet became essential.
  • Between 2010 and 2015, internet usage grew by 54.5%, slower than before but still powerful, especially in developing regions coming online.
  • With 5.6 billion users in January 2025, most of the world is now online, and future growth will be more about improving access, speed, and quality than just connecting new people.
  • Each phase had its catalyst. In the 1990s, it was websites and email. The 2000s brought broadband and Google. In the 2010s, it was smartphones. Now, it's AI, 5G, and IoT that are quietly shaping the future of internet use.

The number of people using the internet has grown from 4.3 million in 1991 to 5.6 billion in January 2025. That’s an increase of over 130,000% in three decades, and a reminder that we’ve lived through one of the fastest technology adoption waves ever recorded. But while the early internet era saw wild surges in growth, that speed has cooled significantly in the last decade.

Source:

Digital 2025 Global Overview Report

Period:

1991 - 2025
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