Internet Use by Country
With nearly 5 billion global internet users going online every day for a multitude of reasons, there’s no question that the web has taken over the daily lives of consumers worldwide.
That said, accessibility to the internet can vary greatly from country to country. Here’s a look at the internet penetration rate by country.
Internet use by country: top 10
The latest data shows that, at 99%, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates have the highest internet penetration rates in the world. This is significantly higher than the worldwide average of 63%.
Despite their joint lead, the amount of time spent online by internet users in these two countries differs pretty significantly. Globally, the average amount of time spent on the internet per day is six hours and 53 minutes. In Denmark, internet users spend five hours and two minutes a day online. In Ireland, this number is higher at six hours and 30 minutes, while in the UAE, it’s as high as eight hours and 36 minutes.
Incidentally, Denmark also has one of the fastest fixed internet speeds in the world. At 163.3 megabytes per second, it’s the country with the third-fastest connection for downloads.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth on the list comparing internet use by country are South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, all of which have penetration rates of 98%. Internet users in South Korea are online for five hours and 29 minutes a day, those in Switzerland spend five hours and 44 minutes per day, and UK internet users spend six hours and 12 minutes a day on the internet.
Saudi Arabia follows with an internet penetration rate of 97.9%—a marginal 0.1% lower than South Korea’s, Switzerland’s, and the UK’s.
The countries with the eighth- and ninth-highest internet usage are Sweden and Canada. Both have penetration rates of 97%. The average daily time spent online by internet users in these two countries is also lower than the global average. In Sweden, this number is at six hours and 22 minutes, while in Canada, it’s six hours and 45 minutes.
Rounding out the list comparing internet use by country is the Netherlands, with 96% of its population using the internet and spending an average of five hours and 11 minutes online every day.