Number of people using the Internet in Canada
Canada: Number of people using the Internet was 38.93 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in Canada, 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
The most recent figure for number of people using the internet in Canada is 38.93 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in Canada peaked at 38.93 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 99,965 people, in 1990.
That places Canada 27th out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 99,965 people | — |
| 1991 | 159,813 people | +59.9% |
| 1992 | 259,881 people | +62.6% |
| 1993 | 338,480 people | +30.2% |
| 1994 | 690,216 people | +103.9% |
| 1995 | 1.22 million people | +76.6% |
| 1996 | 2.00 million people | +64.2% |
| 1997 | 4.52 million people | +125.6% |
| 1998 | 7.51 million people | +66.3% |
| 1999 | 11.01 million people | +46.6% |
| 2000 | 15.74 million people | +43.0% |
| 2001 | 18.67 million people | +18.6% |
| 2002 | 19.32 million people | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 20.31 million people | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 21.07 million people | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 23.11 million people | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 23.58 million people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 24.07 million people | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 25.50 million people | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 27.00 million people | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 27.31 million people | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 28.50 million people | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 28.81 million people | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 30.10 million people | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 30.87 million people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 32.13 million people | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 32.92 million people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 33.88 million people | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 35.09 million people | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 34.58 million people | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 35.10 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 35.92 million people | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 36.61 million people | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 37.70 million people | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 38.93 million people | +3.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 38.93 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 11.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in Canada 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 | +125.6% | 2.00 million people | 4.52 million people |
| 1994 | +103.9% | 338,480 people | 690,216 people |
| 1995 | +76.6% | 690,216 people | 1.22 million people |
| 1998 | +66.3% | 4.52 million people | 7.51 million people |
| 1996 | +64.2% | 1.22 million people | 2.00 million people |
| 1992 | +62.6% | 159,813 people | 259,881 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.78 million people | 99,965 people | 11.01 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.84 million people | 15.74 million people | 27.00 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.42 million people | 27.31 million people | 35.09 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.85 million people | 35.10 million people | 38.93 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More science & technology data for Canada
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 94.11 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.9064 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 37.40 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 4.21 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.0464 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 63,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in Canada?
- Number of people using the internet in Canada was 38.93 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 38.93 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 99,965 people in 1990.
- How does Canada rank for number of people using the internet?
- Canada ranks 27th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.