Key ICT Facts and Figures

In a world increasingly shaped by digital innovation, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) stands at the core of progress. Its influence stretches across every aspect of modern life—from powering economies to connecting communities and enabling critical infrastructure. As of mid-2025, ICT continues to redefine how we learn, work, govern, and socialize. This article unpacks the most compelling facts and figures defining the global ICT landscape today, exploring growth trends, the digital divide, strategic market sectors, and the road ahead.

Global Internet Usage and Connectivity

Roughly 68% of the world’s population—nearly 5.5 billion individuals—were estimated to be internet users in 2024, a notable increase from 65% the year before. However, this growth masks deep disparities: high-income nations record an impressive 93% penetration, while low-income and rural regions lag behind significantly.

Approximately 2.6 to 3 billion people remain offline, a group disproportionately concentrated in parts of Africa and South Asia. These regions face barriers ranging from steep infrastructure costs to limited electricity access and prohibitive service pricing. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that achieving universal broadband may require $418 billion USD in cumulative investments.

While mobile connectivity surges, many users maintain multiple SIM cards or devices. As a result, the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions surpassed 8 billion in 2023, exceeding the global population. This reflects both the prevalence of dual-device usage and the fragmentation of networks in areas with inconsistent coverage.

Data Explosion and Digital Infrastructure

With the expansion of streaming services, cloud computing, AI, IoT sensors, and richer digital content, the global volume of data produced and transmitted is predicted to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025. One zettabyte equals one trillion gigabytes—enough to store millions of years of HD video.

This unprecedented scale, known as the Zettabyte Era, places immense pressure on existing digital infrastructure, amplifying demand for faster networks, robust data centers, and innovative content delivery strategies. Investment in fiber-optic networks, next-generation 5G deployments, and satellite-based internet is accelerating—but unevenly, with rural and underserved areas still lagging.

Cloud computing has reshaped enterprise operations, with businesses leaning heavily on remote data processing, storage, and analytics. The cloud computing market is expected to surpass USD 832 billion by 2025. Edge computing is also gaining traction, bringing processing closer to where data is generated for minimal latency, better performance, and enhanced privacy. Both trends demand strong backbone infrastructure and distributed networks.

Economic Footprint of ICT

The global ICT market is forecast to reach nearly USD 6.2 trillion by 2024, affirming ICT as one of the largest sectors in the modern economy. Enterprises accounted for around USD 4.1 trillion in ICT spending in 2022, reflecting strong digital transformation momentum. ICT contributes approximately 4.5% of global GDP, and this share is expected to grow as digitization continues to drive productivity, innovation, and new business models.

Artificial Intelligence has moved from experimentation to being a central pillar of business strategy. By 2025, up to 90% of companies are expected to leverage AI for customer service, predictive analytics, process automation, and personalized marketing.

The Internet of Things is also expanding rapidly, with an estimated 38.6 billion connected devices expected by 2025, spanning smart homes, industrial sensors, wearable technology, and connected vehicles. These devices generate vast amounts of data, feeding AI systems and cloud platforms.

Performance and Usage Trends

The average global internet speed reached approximately 75 Mbps in 2023, enabling smoother video conferencing, e-commerce, and online learning. Urban areas in advanced economies enjoy much higher bandwidths, while rural and low-income regions often have slower speeds and higher latency.

More than 80% of enterprise data is now stored in the cloud, showing strong confidence in remote storage, collaboration tools, and cloud-based applications. Cloud systems also offer greater resilience, scalability, and integration capabilities across global operations.

The Digital Divide

Significant disparities in access to ICT persist. Africa’s internet penetration stands at only 37%, compared to 89% in Europe. These differences are shaped by factors such as infrastructure investment, policy environments, and economic development.

The gender gap remains a challenge. Globally, the ratio of women to men using the internet—measured as a gender parity score—stands at about 0.92, meaning women are less likely to be online. In Africa, the gap is wider, with a score of 0.75.

Generational gaps are also evident. Around 75% of people aged 15–24 use the internet, compared to 65% of those aged 25 and older. Digital literacy programs, affordable access models, and inclusive technology design are needed to address these divides.

Toward a More Inclusive Digital Future

Closing the digital divide is essential not only for equity but also for maximizing the socio-economic potential of ICT.

Public-private collaborations are emerging as effective tools for financing broadband expansion, particularly in underserved regions. Satellite-based internet initiatives are being developed to provide affordable connectivity in remote areas. Community-owned broadband networks and micro-grid models have shown success in reducing infrastructure costs and increasing local control.

Policy and regulatory reforms are also critical. Streamlined licensing, spectrum allocation, and infrastructure sharing can encourage competition and investment. Some nations are using universal service funds, financed by telecom revenues, to subsidize broadband for low-income households, schools, and clinics.

Digital skills development is another key pillar. Training programs, ICT-focused school curricula, and targeted initiatives for women and older adults are helping broaden participation in the digital economy. These efforts often include education on digital safety, privacy, and secure online practices.

Summary Table: Snapshot of Key ICT Metrics

Key Takeaways

• Global Internet Penetration is at about 68%, meaning roughly 5.5 billion people are online, but up to 3 billion remain unconnected.

• High-income countries have near-universal access (93%), while low-income regions such as parts of Africa and South Asia lag significantly.

• The world is entering the Zettabyte Era, with global data volume expected to hit 175 zettabytes by 2025.

• The ICT market is valued at USD 6.2 trillion in 2024, with enterprises spending over USD 4.1 trillion.

• Cloud computing is projected to reach USD 832 billion by 2025, with more than 80% of enterprise data already cloud-based.

• AI adoption is on track for 90% of enterprises by 2025; IoT devices will likely total 38.6 billion by then.

• The digital divide is pronounced: Africa has only 37% internet penetration, gender gaps persist globally, and younger people are far more connected than older adults.

• Closing connectivity gaps will require USD 418 billion in investment plus coordinated policy, regulatory reforms, and digital literacy initiatives.

Sources
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Digital Democracy Now
Gitnux
Wikipedia
Arxiv.org
Cisco
IDC
Statista