Number of people using the Internet in China
China: Number of people using the Internet was 1.29 billion people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in China, 1990–2025
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
In 2025, number of people using the internet in China stood at 1.29 billion people.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 85.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in China peaked at 1.30 billion people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1990.
China ranks 1st of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people using the Internet in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 people | — |
| 1993 | 1,992 people | — |
| 1994 | 13,944 people | +600.2% |
| 1995 | 59,640 people | +327.7% |
| 1996 | 159,499 people | +167.4% |
| 1997 | 398,544 people | +149.9% |
| 1998 | 2.10 million people | +426.6% |
| 1999 | 8.87 million people | +322.6% |
| 2000 | 22.42 million people | +152.8% |
| 2001 | 33.57 million people | +49.7% |
| 2002 | 58.84 million people | +75.3% |
| 2003 | 79.88 million people | +35.8% |
| 2004 | 94.61 million people | +18.4% |
| 2005 | 111.12 million people | +17.4% |
| 2006 | 137.96 million people | +24.2% |
| 2007 | 210.86 million people | +52.8% |
| 2008 | 299.37 million people | +42.0% |
| 2009 | 384.73 million people | +28.5% |
| 2010 | 458.83 million people | +19.3% |
| 2011 | 515.15 million people | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 572.82 million people | +11.2% |
| 2013 | 624.36 million people | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 657.12 million people | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 694.07 million people | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 738.30 million people | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 758.14 million people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 916.82 million people | +20.9% |
| 2019 | 902.10 million people | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 988.51 million people | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 1.03 billion people | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 1.07 billion people | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 1.28 billion people | +19.7% |
| 2024 | 1.30 billion people | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 1.29 billion people | -0.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.29 billion people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.93 million people, 261.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.29 billion people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 693,850 people, 1856.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +600.2% | 1,992 people | 13,944 people |
| 1998 | +426.6% | 398,544 people | 2.10 million people |
| 1995 | +327.7% | 13,944 people | 59,640 people |
| 1999 | +322.6% | 2.10 million people | 8.87 million people |
| 1996 | +167.4% | 59,640 people | 159,499 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.45 million people | 0 people | 8.87 million people | 8 |
| 2000s | 143.34 million people | 22.42 million people | 384.73 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 683.77 million people | 458.83 million people | 916.82 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.16 billion people | 988.51 million people | 1.30 billion people | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More science & technology data for China
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 131.75 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.33 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 1.87 billion (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 194.33 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 932,712 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0007 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in China?
- Number of people using the internet in China was 1.29 billion people in 2025, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.30 billion people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1990.
- How does China rank for number of people using the internet?
- China ranks 1st out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 85.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.