Number of people using the Internet in India
India: Number of people using the Internet was 696.61 million users in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in India, 1990–2021
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in. Measured in users.
Analysis
India recorded 696.61 million users for number of people using the internet in 2021. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.4% on the previous year and up 448.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in India peaked at 696.61 million users in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0 users, in 1990.
That places India 2nd out of 207 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 630,662 users | 0 users | 2.83 million users | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.40 million users | 5.58 million users | 62.75 million users | 10 |
| 2010s | 205.20 million users | 93.26 million users | 410.09 million users | 10 |
| 2020s | 652.71 million users | 608.81 million users | 696.61 million users | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More science & technology data for India
- Scientific and technical journal articles 228,174 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.15 billion (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 35,306 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 70.0% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 26,267 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2020)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 3.15 per 100 people (2024)
- Landline Internet subscriptions 45.71 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in India?
- Number of people using the internet in India was 696.61 million users in 2021, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in.
- What is the highest number of people using the internet recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 696.61 million users in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 users in 1990.
- How does India rank for number of people using the internet?
- India ranks 2nd out of 207 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 448.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in, 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
The number of individuals using the Internet.