By Martin Ekpeke
While global connectivity continues to expand, a significant digital divide persists. According to the latest data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an estimated 5.5 billion people are now online, a 227 million increase from 2023. However, this leaves nearly half the world’s population, or 2.6 billion people, offline.
The ITU’s Facts and Figures 2024 report highlights the stark disparities between high-income and low-income countries. While 93% of the population in high-income countries is online, this figure drops to a mere 27% in low-income countries.
The situation is even more dire in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), where only 35% and 39% of the population, respectively, have internet access.
Commenting on the report, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the urgent need to bridge the digital divide. “We must intensify our efforts to remove the barriers that keep people offline and close the usage gap,” she said.
She explained that true progress in our interconnected world means ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, has access to the internet.
Meanwhile, the report has identified six key challenges and trends. They are:
- Gender Gap: While progress has been made, women are still less likely to be online than men, especially in LDCs.
- Urban-Rural Divide: Urban dwellers are significantly more likely to have internet access than those in rural areas.
- Generational Divide: Younger generations are more likely to be online, but the gap is narrowing.
- Affordability and Accessibility: The cost of internet access remains a significant barrier, especially in low-income countries.
- 5G Deployment: While 5G coverage is expanding, it is concentrated in high-income countries, leaving low-income regions behind.
- Internet Usage: High-income countries consume significantly more internet data than low-income countries.