Number of people using the Internet in Italy
Italy: Number of people using the Internet was 52.60 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in Italy, 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
In 2024, number of people using the internet in Italy stood at 52.60 million people. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 56.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in Italy peaked at 52.60 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9,926 people, in 1990.
That places Italy 21st out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9,926 people | — |
| 1991 | 19,922 people | +100.7% |
| 1992 | 39,815 people | +99.9% |
| 1993 | 69,335 people | +74.1% |
| 1994 | 109,139 people | +57.4% |
| 1995 | 297,864 people | +172.9% |
| 1996 | 579,975 people | +94.7% |
| 1997 | 1.30 million people | +123.6% |
| 1998 | 2.59 million people | +100.1% |
| 1999 | 8.20 million people | +215.8% |
| 2000 | 13.16 million people | +60.6% |
| 2001 | 15.51 million people | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 16.01 million people | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 16.67 million people | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 19.22 million people | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 20.36 million people | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 22.19 million people | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 23.97 million people | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 26.37 million people | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 29.08 million people | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 32.11 million people | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 32.65 million people | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 33.60 million people | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 35.26 million people | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 33.56 million people | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 35.02 million people | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 36.87 million people | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 37.85 million people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 44.54 million people | +17.7% |
| 2019 | 40.53 million people | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 41.89 million people | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 44.27 million people | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 50.20 million people | +13.4% |
| 2023 | 51.33 million people | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 52.60 million people | +2.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 52.60 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 16.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Italy's 52.60 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.52 million people, 9.5× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in Italy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +215.8% | 2.59 million people | 8.20 million people |
| 1995 | +172.9% | 109,139 people | 297,864 people |
| 1997 | +123.6% | 579,975 people | 1.30 million people |
| 1991 | +100.7% | 9,926 people | 19,922 people |
| 1992 | +99.9% | 19,922 people | 39,815 people |
| 1998 | +100.1% | 1.30 million people | 2.59 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.32 million people | 9,926 people | 8.20 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.25 million people | 13.16 million people | 29.08 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.20 million people | 32.11 million people | 44.54 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.06 million people | 41.89 million people | 52.60 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 18 United Kingdom 66.14 million people compare
- 19 Thailand 65.12 million people compare
- 20 France 60.77 million people compare
- 22 South Korea 50.66 million people compare
- 23 South Africa 50.15 million people compare
- 24 Spain 46.78 million people compare
More science & technology data for Italy
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 132.57 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.33 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 78.67 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 265.33 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.5331 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.2689 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 1,188 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 1,188 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in Italy?
- Number of people using the internet in Italy was 52.60 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 52.60 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,926 people in 1990.
- How does Italy rank for number of people using the internet?
- Italy ranks 21st out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.