GENEVA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Global number of Internet users is estimated to be six billion, about three-quarters of the world's population, in 2025; however, digital divides in quality and affordability continue to deepen, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said in a report released on Monday.

The ITU's Facts and Figures 2025 confirmed steady progress in digital connectivity, saying that the global online population grew by more than 240 million people compared to the 2024 level. This year, an estimated 2.2 billion people remain offline, down from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024.

Meanwhile, the report underlined the importance of digital infrastructure, affordable services, and skills training to ensure that everyone can benefit from advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

"This report highlights how today's digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

According to the report, 5G subscriptions now account for about one-third of all mobile broadband subscriptions globally (approximately 3 billion). However, 84 percent of people in high-income countries have such access, while only 4 percent in low-income countries do. Furthermore, a typical user in a high-income country generates nearly eight times more mobile data than one in a low-income country.

Although the median price for mobile broadband has decreased, it remains unaffordable in about 60 percent of low- and middle-income countries. Significant divides persist, as 94 percent of people in high-income countries use the Internet, but the figure in low-income countries is about 23 percent. Gaps are also evident based on gender and differences in regional development.

Facts and Figures 2025 provides global, regional, and income group estimates for indicators related to Internet use, mobile network coverage, Internet subscriptions, Internet traffic, affordability, digital skills, and mobile phone ownership. ■