Number of people using the Internet in United States
United States: Number of people using the Internet was 321.96 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people using the Internet in United States, 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
United States recorded 321.96 million people for number of people using the internet in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 38.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people using the internet in United States peaked at 321.96 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.96 million people, in 1990.
That places United States 3rd 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 States, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.96 million people | — |
| 1991 | 2.93 million people | +49.8% |
| 1992 | 4.41 million people | +50.3% |
| 1993 | 5.90 million people | +33.7% |
| 1994 | 12.79 million people | +116.7% |
| 1995 | 24.60 million people | +92.4% |
| 1996 | 44.18 million people | +79.6% |
| 1997 | 58.89 million people | +33.3% |
| 1998 | 83.03 million people | +41.0% |
| 1999 | 99.90 million people | +20.3% |
| 2000 | 121.55 million people | +21.7% |
| 2001 | 139.87 million people | +15.1% |
| 2002 | 169.08 million people | +20.9% |
| 2003 | 178.99 million people | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 189.62 million people | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 200.86 million people | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 205.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 225.92 million people | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 225.03 million people | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 217.81 million people | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 221.79 million people | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 217.44 million people | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 234.81 million people | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 226.14 million people | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 233.06 million people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 239.93 million people | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 277.47 million people | +15.6% |
| 2017 | 285.05 million people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 290.75 million people | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 295.32 million people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 299.56 million people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 303.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 309.71 million people | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 314.95 million people | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 321.96 million people | +2.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 321.96 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.26 million people, 98.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people using the Internet in United States 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 | +116.7% | 5.90 million people | 12.79 million people |
| 1995 | +92.4% | 12.79 million people | 24.60 million people |
| 1996 | +79.6% | 24.60 million people | 44.18 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.86 million people | 1.96 million people | 99.90 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 187.44 million people | 121.55 million people | 225.92 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 252.18 million people | 217.44 million people | 295.32 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 309.86 million people | 299.56 million people | 321.96 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More science & technology data for United States
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 113.19 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.15 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 390.99 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 42.21 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.693 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 332,899 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 332,899 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people using the internet in United States?
- Number of people using the internet in United States was 321.96 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 321.96 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people using the internet recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.96 million people in 1990.
- How does United States rank for number of people using the internet?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people using the internet rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.