The internet has become an essential part of modern life, with 68 per cent of the world’s population – about 5.5 billion people – now online, according to Statista. This growth highlights the rapid integration of digital technology into everyday life.
Our latest Chart of the Week illustrates how the number of internet users has grown significantly faster than the global population increase over the past two decades. Internet user numbers are increasing at an annual rate of 9.3 per cent – far outpacing global population growth of 1.15 per cent, the UN Population Division says.
About 236 million new users come online each year, driven by improved infrastructure, affordable smartphones and efforts to expand digital inclusion, according to Statista.
Who remains unconnected?
Despite the rapid growth, 32 per cent of the global population – around 2.6 billion people – remain offline, Statista reports. Many of those still unconnected live in Africa, where internet penetration has increased from 7.6 per cent in 2009 to 33 per cent in 2021, highlighting significant progress but still lagging behind other regions.
Top 10 countries with the least internet usage in 2024
According to data from online media monitoring company Meltwater, the countries with the highest percentage of offline populations this year are:
- North Korea: >99.9% offline (Blocked)
- Central African Republic: 89.4% offline (5.2 million unconnected individuals)
- Burundi: 88.7% offline (11.9 million unconnected individuals)
- South Sudan: 87.9% offline (9.8 million unconnected individuals)
- Niger: 83.1% offline (23.0 million unconnected individuals)
- Yemen: 82.3% offline (28.6 million unconnected individuals)
- Afghanistan: 81.6% offline (34.9 million unconnected individuals)
- Ethiopia: 80.6% offline (103.3 million unconnected individuals)
- Burkina Faso: 80.1% offline (18.9 million unconnected individuals)
- Madagascar: 79.4% offline (24.4 million unconnected individuals)
While North Korea remains almost entirely unconnected due to government restrictions, countries like the Central African Republic and Burundi face challenges stemming from limited infrastructure and economic constraints. Meanwhile, nations such as South Sudan and Yemen grapple with conflict and instability, further hindering connectivity. In comparison, countries like the US and UK have penetration rates exceeding 90 per cent, highlighting the stark global digital divide.
Top 10 countries by internet users in 2024
According to World Population Review, the top 10 countries by internet users this year are:
- China: 1.1 billion users
- India: 881.3 million users
- United States: 311.3 million users
- Indonesia: 215.6 million users
- Pakistan: 170 million users
- Brazil: 165.3 million users
- Nigeria: 136.2 million users
- Russia: 129.8 million users
- Bangladesh: 126.2 million users
- Japan: 117.4 million users
China and India have the largest number of internet users. While 79 per cent of China's population is online, penetration rates are lower in India, with 63 per cent of people there using the internet. By comparison, countries such as the US and UK have penetration rates exceeding 90 per cent.
The digital access gap
The internet has transformed communication, education, and commerce, reshaping how people engage with the world, from basic messaging to advanced AI applications.
However, significant disparities remain. While the Arabian Peninsula enjoys some of the world’s highest connectivity rates, Africa continues to face challenges as the least connected region.
Efforts to bridge this digital divide are critical. Infrastructure development and affordable technology will play a vital role in connecting the 2.6 billion people who remain offline, Statista reports. Achieving universal access to the internet remains a major challenge, but also holds the potential to unlock opportunities for a more connected and inclusive world.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
%3Cp%3EAl%20Khayma%0D%3Cbr%3EBait%20Maryam%0D%3Cbr%3EBrasserie%20Boulud%0D%3Cbr%3EFi'lia%0D%3Cbr%3Efolly%0D%3Cbr%3EGoldfish%0D%3Cbr%3EIbn%20AlBahr%0D%3Cbr%3EIndya%20by%20Vineet%0D%3Cbr%3EKinoya%0D%3Cbr%3ENinive%0D%3Cbr%3EOrfali%20Bros%0D%3Cbr%3EReif%20Japanese%20Kushiyaki%0D%3Cbr%3EShabestan%0D%3Cbr%3ETeible%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The five pillars of Islam
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHusam%20Aboul%20Hosn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDIFC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%E2%80%94%20Innovation%20Hub%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%20funding%20raised%20from%20family%20and%20friends%20earlier%20this%20year%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
