The number of internet users worldwide has risen to 6.3 billion in 2026, accounting for approximately 76 percent of the global population. Nevertheless, nearly two billion people across the globe still lack access to the internet.
According to a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the number of internet users globally stood at 6.1 billion in 2025, increasing to 6.3 billion in 2026.
The report highlights a significant disparity in internet access between wealthy and low-income nations. In high-income countries, 93 percent of the population uses the internet, whereas in low-income countries, this figure is only 32 percent.
Similarly, a gender gap in internet usage persists. Globally, 74 percent of women use the internet compared to 79 percent of men. Furthermore, the internet usage rate stands at 82 percent in urban areas, contrasted with 63 percent in rural areas.
The report further notes that 59 percent of the world’s population has access to mobile networks. However, a substantial gap exists here as well: in high-income countries, this figure reaches 86 percent, while in low-income countries, it is merely four percent.
Beyond the issue of access, the cost of the internet also presents a major challenge. According to the report, in 30 percent of the world’s countries, the cost of broadband internet is not affordable by established standards. At a time when the world is making continuous progress in digital connectivity and internet access, a region in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been facing an internet blackout for over four months.
Due to the government’s suspension of internet services, citizens here are encountering difficulties in areas such as education, employment, business, journalism, and maintaining contact with the outside world.
This internet shutdown persists at a time when access to digital facilities is considered a fundamental developmental necessity globally, with billions of people leveraging the internet for education, information, and economic opportunities.
Thus, while the world views the growing number of internet users as a sign of progress, the citizens of Pakistan-administered Kashmir have remained deprived of this essential digital facility for several months.
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