Number of people using the Internet in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of people using the Internet was 66.14 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 66.14 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in United Kingdom peaked at 66.14 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 50,034 people, in 1990.
That places United Kingdom 18th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50,034 people | — |
| 1991 | 99,919 people | +99.7% |
| 1992 | 150,285 people | +50.4% |
| 1993 | 300,137 people | +99.7% |
| 1994 | 601,804 people | +100.5% |
| 1995 | 1.10 million people | +83.2% |
| 1996 | 2.40 million people | +117.4% |
| 1997 | 4.31 million people | +79.8% |
| 1998 | 8.01 million people | +85.9% |
| 1999 | 12.50 million people | +56.0% |
| 2000 | 15.80 million people | +26.4% |
| 2001 | 19.79 million people | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 33.53 million people | +69.4% |
| 2003 | 38.66 million people | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 39.36 million people | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 42.28 million people | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 41.87 million people | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 46.05 million people | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 48.45 million people | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 52.04 million people | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 53.35 million people | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 54.01 million people | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 55.73 million people | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 57.62 million people | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 59.20 million people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 59.88 million people | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 62.18 million people | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 59.65 million people | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 60.12 million people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 61.64 million people | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 63.28 million people | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 64.43 million people | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 64.57 million people | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 65.41 million people | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 66.14 million people | +1.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 66.14 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 20.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 66.14 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.52 million people, 12.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +117.4% | 1.10 million people | 2.40 million people |
| 1994 | +100.5% | 300,137 people | 601,804 people |
| 1991 | +99.7% | 50,034 people | 99,919 people |
| 1993 | +99.7% | 150,285 people | 300,137 people |
| 1998 | +85.9% | 4.31 million people | 8.01 million people |
| 1995 | +83.2% | 601,804 people | 1.10 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.95 million people | 50,034 people | 12.50 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.78 million people | 15.80 million people | 52.04 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.34 million people | 53.35 million people | 62.18 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.77 million people | 63.28 million people | 66.14 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 121.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 348.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.9277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.2704 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 7,847 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7,847 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in United Kingdom?
- Number of people using the internet in United Kingdom was 66.14 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 66.14 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 50,034 people in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of people using the internet?
- United Kingdom ranks 18th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people who used the Internet in the last three months.