Only 2.2% of internet users worldwide do not own a smartphone device

Key takeaways:

  • Smartphones are nearly universal, with only 2.2% of internet users worldwide not owning one.
  • Laptop and desktop ownership (58.3%) lags behind smartphones, reinforcing the shift toward mobile-first usage for internet access.
  • Smart TVs (48.2%) are closing in on traditional computing devices, showing how entertainment consumption is increasingly digital and on-demand.
  • Wearables are rising, with smartwatches (25.8%) and smart wristbands (12.9%) becoming more mainstream, signalling a growing appetite for health and fitness tracking.
  • Gaming consoles (18.9%) and smart home devices (17.4%) have niched but steady adoption, appealing to entertainment and home automation enthusiasts.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) remains a specialty product, with just 4.7% ownership.
  • For businesses, the mobile-first reality is non-negotiable —any service, product, or content must prioritise accessibility via smartphones to reach the widest audience.

The modern digital space is overwhelmingly mobile-driven, with 97.8% of internet users owning a smartphone. This near-universal adoption highlights how smartphones have become the primary gateway to the internet, shaping how people work, communicate, and consume content. In contrast, less than 60% of users own a laptop or desktop, proving that mobile devices are now the default choice for digital interaction.
While smartphones dominate, Smart TVs (48.2%) and tablets (32.4%) have carved out strong positions, reflecting a shift toward entertainment and flexible computing. The growing adoption of smartwatches (25.8%) and smart home devices (17.4%) signals an expanding interest in wearable technology and home automation, even though these remain secondary to mainstream devices.

Source:

Digital 2025 Global Overview Report

Period:

2025
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Nearly half of all global active Facebook users, 47.7%, are located in Asia
  • Asia holds nearly half (47.7%) of Facebook’s global users, with over 1.1 billion people actively using the platform.
  • America is second with 611.8M users, comprising 26.8% of the total user base.
  • Africa’s 291.1M users (12.7%) place it slightly ahead of Europe in Facebook engagement.
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Asia has 2.2 times more Messenger users than America, taking the lead with 471.8M users
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  • Asia has 2.2 times more users than the Americas, which is the next largest region.
  • The Americas account for 210.7M users, or 22.3% of the global audience.
  • Europe contributes 154.3M users, making up 16.3% of all Messenger users worldwide.
  • Africa stands at 104.6M users, showing growth potential and already accounting for 11.1% of global usage.
  • Oceania has the smallest user base at just 4.8M users, contributing 0.5%.
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  • TikTok follows closely with 37.4 million users, accounting for 15.8% of Nigerians.
  • YouTube attracts 27 million users, showing its continued relevance for content consumption.
  • Snapchat boasts 19.6 million users, with 8.3% penetration across the country.
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  • Instagram has 9.9 million users, slightly below LinkedIn in total reach.
  • X (formerly Twitter) has 7.57 million users, capturing 3.2% of the population.
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  • Asia follows, contributing 397M users, or 33.1% of the global total.
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  • Africa’s 83M users represent a smaller but growing 6.9% share of global users.
  • Oceania has the smallest share, at 1.8%, with only 21.5M users.
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The number of Instagram users in Asia (888.3M) is more than the total number of users in other continents combined (855.1M)
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  • Africa, with 91.3M users (5.2%), still has plenty of headroom for expansion.
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The active Facebook users in Asia total 1.1B, which is 13.8% of the global population and 22.9% of Asia's population
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