ITU 2025 Report: 5G Reaches 55% Globally, But 2.2 Billion Remain Offline

The global rollout of 5G mobile networks has reached a significant milestone, covering 55% of the world's population by the end of 2025, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). However, this expansion masks a stark reality: the digital divide remains stubbornly entrenched, with 2.2 billion people—more than a quarter of the global population—still lacking internet access.[1]

The ITU's "Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2025" report highlights a slowing trajectory toward universal connectivity. While the number of internet users grew to 6 billion, representing 74% of the global population, the year-on-year growth rate was a modest 3.3%. This deceleration suggests that connecting the remaining offline populations is proving increasingly difficult.[1]

The disparity in internet access is most pronounced when comparing income groups. In high-income countries, 94% of the population is online, nearing universal coverage. Conversely, only 23% of individuals in low-income countries use the internet. This gap is not merely a matter of convenience; it represents a fundamental barrier to economic participation, education, and essential services.[1]

The Quality Gap: 5G vs. 3G

The divide extends beyond basic access to the quality of the connection. While 5G covers 84% of the population in high-income countries, it reaches a mere 4% in low-income countries. In these regions, 4G coverage also drops sharply to 56%, leaving many reliant on older 3G networks, which limit the ability to utilize data-intensive applications.[1]

The urban-rural divide further complicates the picture. Globally, 85% of urban dwellers use the internet, compared to 58% of the rural population. This gap is widest in regions with low overall penetration. For instance, in Africa, the ratio of urban to rural internet users is 2.6, indicating that urban residents are more than twice as likely to be online.[1]

The deployment of new infrastructure, such as 5G, tends to prioritize densely populated and economically attractive urban areas. As a result, 66% of people living in urban areas worldwide have access to a 5G network, compared with just 40% in rural areas. In low-income countries, 5G is essentially unavailable in rural areas.[1]

The Cost of Connectivity

Affordability remains a critical barrier to internet adoption. Although internet access prices have continued to fall globally, the cost remains prohibitive for many in low-income economies. The median price of a data-only mobile broadband basket (5 GB) fell to 1.4% of gross national income (GNI) per capita globally in 2025.[1]

However, subscribers in low-income economies spend about 22 times more of their income on a mobile broadband basket than those in high-income economies. The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development's target—that broadband access should not exceed 2% of GNI per capita—has been met by only 130 out of 205 economies for mobile broadband.[1]

In low- and middle-income countries, internet services remain unaffordable in about 60% of economies. This lack of affordability prevents many from coming online and limits the ability of those who are connected to fully participate in the digital economy. Where available, a fixed broadband subscription in a low-income country costs the equivalent of more than one-quarter of the average income.[1]

Gender and Generational Divides

The gender digital divide also persists, with 77% of men using the internet globally compared to 71% of women. This translates to about 280 million more men than women online. The global gender parity score has remained stagnant at 0.92 since 2019, indicating a lack of progress toward equality.[1]

While regions like Europe and the Americas have achieved gender parity, others lag significantly. Africa, despite notable improvement over the past six years, still has a gender parity score of 0.78. The Arab States and Asia-Pacific regions also show little to no progress in closing the gender gap.[1]

Conversely, the generational gap in internet use is shrinking. Globally, 82% of people aged 15 to 24 use the internet, compared to 72% of the rest of the population. This gap is most pronounced in low-income countries, where youth are 1.9 times more likely to be online than older generations.[1]

Mobile Dominance and Data Consumption

Mobile phones continue to be the primary gateway to the internet, with 82% of individuals aged 10 or older owning a device. However, ownership does not equate to internet use. In Africa, for example, 66% of the population owns a mobile phone, but only 36% are online. This discrepancy highlights that device ownership is only one part of the connectivity equation.[1]

The shift toward data-based services is evident in subscription trends. Mobile broadband now accounts for 89% of all mobile subscriptions, up from less than 50% in 2015. Furthermore, 5G subscriptions already represent 36% of all mobile broadband subscriptions globally.[1]

Internet traffic patterns reveal the depth of the digital divide. The average monthly mobile broadband traffic per subscription in high-income countries is 17.9 GB, roughly eight times the 2.2 GB average in low-income countries. An average user in a high-income country generates more traffic in four days than a user in a low-income country does in a month.[1]

Fixed broadband networks, while less pervasive than mobile, carry the vast majority of internet data. In 2025, fixed broadband traffic reached an estimated 7.3 zettabytes (ZB), compared to 1.5 ZB for mobile broadband. However, mobile broadband traffic is growing at a faster rate, averaging 19% annually since 2021, compared to 16% for fixed broadband.[1]

The Path Forward

The ITU report underscores that achieving universal and meaningful connectivity requires more than just expanding network coverage. It demands targeted efforts to address affordability, improve digital skills, and close the gender and rural divides. As Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, noted, "Reliable, comparable and timely data are the foundation of effective digital policies and of our shared vision to connect the world".[1]

Without sustained investment and policy interventions, the remaining 2.2 billion offline individuals risk being permanently left behind in an increasingly digital world. The challenge is no longer just about building infrastructure, but ensuring that the infrastructure is accessible, affordable, and usable by all.[2]