Share of the population using the Internet in China
China: Share of the population using the Internet was 91.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population using the Internet in China, 1990–2025
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population using the internet in China is 91.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 82.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using the internet in China peaked at 92.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
China ranks 51st of 208 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population using the Internet in China, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | +592.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +323.1% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | +164.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +147.3% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +421.6% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +318.9% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +150.8% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | +48.6% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +74.1% |
| 2003 | 6.2% | +34.9% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | +17.7% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | +16.8% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | +23.5% |
| 2007 | 16.0% | +52.0% |
| 2008 | 22.6% | +41.3% |
| 2009 | 28.9% | +27.9% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | +18.7% |
| 2011 | 38.3% | +11.7% |
| 2012 | 42.3% | +10.4% |
| 2013 | 45.8% | +8.3% |
| 2014 | 47.9% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 50.3% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 53.2% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 54.3% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 65.4% | +20.4% |
| 2019 | 64.1% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 70.1% | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 73.1% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 75.6% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 90.6% | +19.8% |
| 2024 | 92.0% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 91.6% | -0.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 91.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 81.5%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 91.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 80.5%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population 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 | +592.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1998 | +421.6% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1995 | +323.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1999 | +318.9% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| 1996 | +164.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 1.8% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.6% | 34.3% | 65.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.2% | 70.1% | 92.0% | 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 share of the population using the internet in China?
- Share of the population using the internet in China was 91.6% in 2025, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population using the internet recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 92.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population using the internet recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does China rank for share of the population using the internet?
- China ranks 51st out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of the population using the internet rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.1%. 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) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the population who used the Internet in the last three months.