Internet Adoption Statistics in United Kingdom (2026)
According to World Bank World Development Indicators data, 95.5% of the population in the United Kingdom used the internet in 2024. Essentially no change from 95.4% in 2023 to 95.5% in 2024. United Kingdom ranks #14 of 51 economies in Europe & Central Asia on this measure, and #26 of 188 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 95.5% (2024)
- Internet Adoption in the United Kingdom as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2023
- 0 pp (2024)
- Essentially no change from 95.4% in 2023 to 95.5% in 2024.
- Earliest value in this dataset (1990)
- 0.1% (1990)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 0.1% in 1990 to 95.5% in 2024.
- Peak value (2021)
- 96.2% (2021)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2024 value is 95.5%.
- Rank in Europe & Central Asia
- #14 of 51 (2024)
- The United Kingdom ranks 14 of 51 countries in Europe & Central Asia with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #26 of 188 (2024)
- The United Kingdom ranks 26 of 188 countries with data globally.
- Europe & Central Asia average
- 90.8% (2024)
- The United Kingdom (95.5%) is above the average of 90.8% across the 51 countries in Europe & Central Asia with data.
- Projected 2026 value
- 97% (2026)
- Projection based on 7-year trend (CAGR 0.8%); not an official figure.
- Internet use in the United Kingdom (2024)
- 95.5% (2024)
- 95.5% of the population in the United Kingdom used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 69.2 million (2024)
- The United Kingdom had a population of 69.2 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 1990–2024
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 95.5% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 95.4% | −0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 95.5% | −0.7 pp |
| 2021 | 96.2% | +1.4 pp |
| 2020 | 94.8% | +2.3 pp |
| 2019 | 92.5% | +1.8 pp |
| 2018 | 90.7% | +0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 90.4% | −4.4 pp |
| 2016 | 94.8% | +2.8 pp |
| 2015 | 92% | +0.4 pp |
| 2014 | 91.6% | +1.8 pp |
| 2013 | 89.8% | +2.4 pp |
| 2012 | 87.5% | +2.1 pp |
| 2011 | 85.4% | +0.4 pp |
| 2010 | 85% | +1.4 pp |
| 2009 | 83.6% | +5.2 pp |
| 2008 | 78.4% | +3.3 pp |
| 2007 | 75.1% | +6.3 pp |
| 2006 | 68.8% | −1.2 pp |
| 2005 | 70% | +4.4 pp |
| 2004 | 65.6% | +0.8 pp |
| 2003 | 64.8% | +8.3 pp |
| 2002 | 56.5% | +23.0 pp |
| 2001 | 33.5% | +6.7 pp |
| 2000 | 26.8% | +5.5 pp |
| 1999 | 21.3% | +7.6 pp |
| 1998 | 13.7% | +6.3 pp |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +3.3 pp |
| 1996 | 4.1% | +2.2 pp |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +0.9 pp |
| 1994 | 1% | +0.5 pp |
| 1993 | 0.5% | +0.3 pp |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +0.1 pp |
| 1990 | 0.1% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of people in the United Kingdom used the internet?
95.5% of the population in the United Kingdom used the internet in 2024, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
When did internet adoption in the United Kingdom peak?
The highest value in the available series was 96.2% in 2021; the latest (2024) value is 95.5%.
How recent is the internet adoption data for the United Kingdom?
The most recent observation is from 2024. World Bank World Development Indicators data is reported with a lag, so 2024 is the latest available year for the United Kingdom.
Where does the internet adoption data for the United Kingdom come from?
The data comes from the World Bank World Development Indicators (indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS). The latest observation for the United Kingdom is from 2024; the snapshot was retrieved on 2026-06-10.
How has internet adoption in the United Kingdom changed over time?
World Bank World Development Indicators data show a rise from 0.1% in 1990 to 95.5% in 2024.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
IT.NET.USER.ZS, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .