Share of the population using the Internet in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of the population using the Internet was 95.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population using the Internet in United Kingdom, 1990–2024
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
United Kingdom recorded 95.5% for share of the population using the internet in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using the internet in United Kingdom peaked at 96.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 29th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.1% | — |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +99.1% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +50.0% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | +99.2% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +100.0% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +82.7% |
| 1996 | 4.1% | +116.8% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +79.4% |
| 1998 | 13.7% | +85.4% |
| 1999 | 21.3% | +55.5% |
| 2000 | 26.8% | +25.9% |
| 2001 | 33.5% | +24.8% |
| 2002 | 56.5% | +68.7% |
| 2003 | 64.8% | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 65.6% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 70.0% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 68.8% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 75.1% | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 78.4% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 83.6% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 85.0% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 85.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 87.5% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 89.8% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 91.6% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 92.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 94.8% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 90.4% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 90.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 92.5% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 94.8% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 96.2% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 95.5% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 95.4% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 95.5% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 95.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 93.1%, 1.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 95.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 91.9%, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population 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 | +116.8% | 1.9% | 4.1% |
| 1994 | +100.0% | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| 1991 | +99.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1993 | +99.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| 1998 | +85.4% | 7.4% | 13.7% |
| 1995 | +82.7% | 1.0% | 1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 0.1% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.3% | 26.8% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 90.0% | 85.0% | 94.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 95.5% | 94.8% | 96.2% | 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)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using the internet in United Kingdom?
- Share of the population using the internet in United Kingdom was 95.5% in 2024, 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 96.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population using the internet recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of the population using the internet?
- United Kingdom ranks 29th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using the internet rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. 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) – 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.
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About this data
Share of the population who used the Internet in the last three months.