Number of people using the Internet in Australia
Australia: Number of people using the Internet was 26.14 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in Australia, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi. Measured in people.
Analysis
Australia recorded 26.14 million people for number of people using the internet in 2024. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in Australia peaked at 26.14 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 99,831 people, in 1990.
Australia ranks 38th of 208 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people using the Internet in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 99,831 people | — |
| 1991 | 190,124 people | +90.4% |
| 1992 | 309,372 people | +62.7% |
| 1993 | 347,406 people | +12.3% |
| 1994 | 397,062 people | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 496,935 people | +25.2% |
| 1996 | 597,772 people | +20.3% |
| 1997 | 3.02 million people | +405.4% |
| 1998 | 5.73 million people | +89.7% |
| 1999 | 7.68 million people | +33.9% |
| 2000 | 8.90 million people | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 10.16 million people | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 12.71 million people | +25.2% |
| 2006 | 13.50 million people | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 14.46 million people | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 15.23 million people | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 16.11 million people | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 16.74 million people | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 17.76 million people | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 17.96 million people | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 19.30 million people | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 19.72 million people | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 20.14 million people | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 20.93 million people | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 21.28 million people | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 22.47 million people | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 23.72 million people | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 24.29 million people | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 24.91 million people | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 25.01 million people | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 25.62 million people | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 26.14 million people | +2.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 26.14 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 8.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Australia's 26.14 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 693,850 people, 37.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +405.4% | 597,772 people | 3.02 million people |
| 1991 | +90.4% | 99,831 people | 190,124 people |
| 1998 | +89.7% | 3.02 million people | 5.73 million people |
| 1992 | +62.7% | 190,124 people | 309,372 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.89 million people | 99,831 people | 7.68 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.01 million people | 8.90 million people | 16.11 million people | 7 |
| 2010s | 20.00 million people | 16.74 million people | 23.72 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.19 million people | 24.29 million people | 26.14 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More science & technology data for Australia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.58 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.11 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 30.07 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 3.87 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.0604 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 54,589 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in Australia?
- Number of people using the internet in Australia was 26.14 million people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi.
- What is the highest number of people using the internet recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.14 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 99,831 people in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for number of people using the internet?
- Australia ranks 38th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, vi, published as part of Number of people using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people who used the Internet in the last three months.