Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) 2003

Discover the internet usage rate by country, showcasing the percentage of the population online. This statistic highlights digital accessibility and connectivity trends globally, emphasizing the importance of internet access in today's world.

210 data points•Updated 12/31/2025•World•International Telecommunication Union (ITU)•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Canada	64.2 %
2	Bermuda	56.522 %
3	China, Hong Kong SAR	52.2 %
4	Belgium	49.97 %
5	Austria	42.7 %
6	Barbados	39.69 %
7	Czech Republic	34.3 %
8	Cyprus	30.09 %
9	China, Macao SAR	25.742 %
10	Chile	25.474 %
11	Croatia	22.75 %
12	Bahrain	21.555 %
13	Aruba	20.8 %
14	Costa Rica	20.334 %
15	Bahamas	20 %
16	Brunei Darussalam	19.595 %
17	Antigua and Barbuda	17.229 %
18	Andorra	13.546 %
19	Brazil	13.208 %
20	Bulgaria	12.04 %
21	Argentina	11.914 %
22	Colombia	7.389 %
23	China	6.2 %
24	Cuba	5.241 %
25	Armenia	4.575 %
26	Cabo Verde	4.325 %
27	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3.965 %
28	Bolivia	3.509 %
29	Botswana	3.345 %
30	Bhutan	2.437 %
31	Algeria	2.195 %
32	Albania	0.972 %
33	Benin	0.951 %
34	Comoros	0.848 %
35	Côte d'Ivoire	0.759 %
36	Cameroon	0.588 %
37	Congo	0.46 %
38	Burkina Faso	0.373 %
39	Angola	0.371 %
40	Chad	0.32 %
41	Cambodia	0.261 %
42	Burundi	0.201 %
43	Bangladesh	0.164 %
44	Afghanistan	0.088 %
45	Australia	NaN %
46	Azerbaijan	NaN %
47	Belarus	NaN %
48	Belize	NaN %
49	British Virgin Islands	NaN %
50	Cayman Islands	NaN %
51	Central African Republic	0.152 %
52	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0.135 %
53	Curaçao	NaN %
54	Iceland	83.14 %
55	Denmark	76.26 %
56	Finland	69.22 %
57	Faroe Islands	58.913 %
58	Germany	55.9 %
59	Greenland	54.534 %
60	Japan	48.435 %
61	Estonia	45.32 %
62	France	36.14 %
63	Ireland	34.31 %
64	Guam	33.717 %
65	Italy	29.04 %
66	Gibraltar	28.326 %
67	Latvia	26.98 %
68	Dominica	23.62 %
69	Kuwait	22.403 %
70	Hungary	21.63 %
71	Israel	19.593 %
72	Grenada	18.645 %
73	Greece	17.8 %
74	French Polynesia	14.124 %
75	Jordan	8.466 %
76	Dominican Republic	7.898 %
77	Jamaica	7.8 %
78	Iran	6.934 %
79	Fiji	6.725 %
80	Honduras	4.8 %
81	Guatemala	4.549 %
82	Ecuador	4.46 %
83	Egypt	4.038 %
84	Kyrgyzstan	3.909 %
85	Kiribati	3 %
86	Kenya	2.942 %
87	Gabon	2.66 %
88	Georgia	2.559 %
89	El Salvador	2.5 %
90	Eswatini	2.437 %
91	Gambia	2.437 %
92	Guyana	2.4 %
93	Indonesia	2.387 %
94	Kazakhstan	2 %
95	India	1.686 %
96	Guinea-Bissau	1.354 %
97	Djibouti	0.626 %
98	Equatorial Guinea	0.521 %
99	Eritrea	NaN %
100	Haiti	1.647 %
101	Ghana	1.193 %
102	Iraq	0.6 %
103	Guinea	0.451 %
104	Ethiopia	0.106 %
105	Kosovo	NaN %
106	Norway	78.13 %
107	Netherlands	64.35 %
108	New Zealand	60.963 %
109	Liechtenstein	58.81 %
110	Luxembourg	54.55 %
111	Monaco	49.491 %
112	Malaysia	34.971 %
113	Malta	31.64 %
114	Portugal	29.67 %
115	New Caledonia	26.408 %
116	Lithuania	25.91 %
117	Poland	24.87 %
118	Saint Kitts and Nevis	22.97 %
119	Palau	21.602 %
120	Puerto Rico	19.707 %
121	Qatar	19.242 %
122	North Macedonia	19.07 %
123	Mexico	12.9 %
124	Mauritius	12.187 %
125	Peru	11.6 %
126	Panama	9.987 %
127	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	9.233 %
128	Romania	8.9 %
129	Russia	8.299 %
130	Lebanon	8 %
131	Republic of Moldova	7.408 %
132	Oman	7.256 %
133	Maldives	5.977 %
134	Pakistan	5.041 %
135	Philippines	4.858 %
136	Namibia	3.36 %
137	Morocco	3.353 %
138	Libya	2.815 %
139	Marshall Islands	2.57 %
140	Paraguay	2.112 %
141	Nicaragua	1.88 %
142	Lesotho	1.533 %
143	Papua New Guinea	1.374 %
144	Nigeria	0.559 %
145	Mauritania	0.424 %
146	Madagascar	0.423 %
147	Mozambique	0.42 %
148	Nepal	0.383 %
149	Mali	0.31 %
150	Malawi	0.279 %
151	Liberia	0.032 %
152	Mongolia	NaN %
153	Montenegro	NaN %
154	Rwanda	0.357 %
155	Niger	0.156 %
156	Myanmar	0.024 %
157	Nauru	NaN %
158	Sweden	79.13 %
159	South Korea	65.5 %
160	Switzerland	65.1 %
161	United Kingdom	64.82 %
162	United States	61.697 %
163	Singapore	53.838 %
164	San Marino	50.004 %
165	Slovakia	43.04 %
166	Spain	39.93 %
167	Slovenia	31.855 %
168	United Arab Emirates	29.478 %
169	United States Virgin Islands	27.429 %
170	Trinidad and Tobago	25.972 %
171	Saint Lucia	20.983 %
172	Uruguay	15.937 %
173	Seychelles	14.593 %
174	Turkey	12.33 %
175	Sao Tome and Principe	10.162 %
176	Thailand	9.299 %
177	Saudi Arabia	8.002 %
178	Venezuela	7.5 %
179	Tuvalu	6.9 %
180	Tunisia	6.491 %
181	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	6.462 %
182	Suriname	4.72 %
183	Ukraine	3.148 %
184	Tonga	2.986 %
185	Samoa	2.8 %
186	Senegal	2.101 %
187	Serbia	NaN %
188	South Africa	7.008 %
189	State of Palestine	4.131 %
190	Vanuatu	3.903 %
191	Vietnam	3.78 %
192	Syrian Arab Republic	3.398 %
193	Uzbekistan	1.913 %
194	Zimbabwe	1.8 %
195	Sri Lanka	1.459 %
196	Togo	1.2 %
197	Zambia	0.98 %
198	Tanzania	0.677 %
199	Yemen	0.605 %
200	Solomon Islands	0.556 %
201	Sudan	0.538 %
202	Uganda	0.465 %
203	Turkmenistan	0.425 %
204	Somalia	0.376 %
205	Laos	0.334 %
206	Sierra Leone	0.19 %
207	South Sudan	NaN %
208	Tajikistan	0.065 %
209	North Korea	0 %
210	Timor-Leste	NaN %

↑Top 10 Countries

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

The global landscape of the Internet in 2003 marked a pivotal moment in digital connectivity, with the "Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)" providing insight into how different nations embraced the digital age. This statistic serves as a barometer for digital accessibility, highlighting both progress and challenges. In this year, the data reflected significant disparities in internet access among countries, underlining the digital divide that was prevalent at the time.

Global Leaders in Connectivity

In 2003, several countries stood out for their high internet usage rates, showcasing their advanced digital infrastructure. Iceland led the world with a remarkable 83.14% of its population online, followed closely by Sweden at 79.13% and Norway at 78.13%. These figures underscore the strong emphasis on technology and connectivity in Nordic countries, which have consistently prioritized digital innovation and investment. The high penetration rates in these nations were driven by government policies supporting universal internet access, robust telecommunications infrastructure, and a tech-savvy population eager to embrace the digital world.

Regional Disparities in Internet Access

While some countries were at the forefront of internet adoption, others lagged significantly. The data revealed stark contrasts, with North Korea, Myanmar, and Liberia reporting some of the lowest internet usage rates, ranging from 0% to 0.031%. These figures highlight the ongoing challenges in developing adequate internet infrastructure and addressing political or economic barriers. The lack of internet access in these regions can be attributed to factors such as limited telecommunications infrastructure, regulatory restrictions, and economic constraints. Such disparities emphasize the need for targeted policies to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive digital growth.

Growth Trends and Innovations

The year 2003 also saw significant year-over-year changes in internet usage across various countries. Spain experienced the largest increase, with a remarkable growth of 19.54 percentage points, reflecting a 95.8% surge in internet adoption. Other notable increases were observed in Luxembourg and Kuwait, with growth rates of 36.9% and 118.6% respectively. These trends indicate a burgeoning interest in digital technologies driven by economic reforms, investments in telecommunication infrastructure, and cultural shifts towards connectivity. Such advancements were crucial in shaping the digital trajectories of these nations, positioning them for future growth in the information age.

The varying internet usage rates in 2003 also had profound economic and social implications. Countries with higher internet penetration, such as the United Kingdom (64.82%) and Canada (64.2%), were better positioned to leverage digital technologies for economic development, innovation, and competitive advantage. In these regions, the internet became a catalyst for new business models, enhancing productivity and creating new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. Conversely, countries with low internet usage faced challenges in participating in the global digital economy, which could hinder their economic growth and development.

Future Projections and Policy Implications

As the global community moved forward from 2003, the data on internet usage underscored the importance of strategic policy interventions to ensure equitable access to digital technologies. Countries with low penetration rates needed to prioritize investments in infrastructure, address regulatory barriers, and foster an inclusive digital environment. The burgeoning growth in internet usage in several countries suggested a positive trajectory, yet it also highlighted the need for continued focus on reducing disparities. Policymakers were tasked with promoting digital literacy, expanding connectivity to underserved areas, and fostering international cooperation to support a more connected and equitable global community.

The "Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)" in 2003 provided a snapshot of a world at the cusp of digital transformation. As countries navigated this evolving landscape, their ability to harness the potential of the internet would play a crucial role in shaping their future economic and social development.

Insights by country

Liechtenstein

In 2003, Liechtenstein achieved an impressive Internet usage rate of 58.81%, ranking 14th out of 210 countries in terms of internet penetration among its population. This statistic reflects the country's early adoption of digital technologies and a strong infrastructure supporting internet access.

The relatively high internet usage rate can be attributed to several factors, including Liechtenstein's developed economy, high standard of living, and a strong emphasis on education and technology. The small size of the country also allows for quicker implementation of technological advancements compared to larger nations.

Moreover, the government of Liechtenstein has historically encouraged digital innovation and investment in telecommunications, facilitating broader access to the internet. As of 2003, this trend was indicative of the nation's commitment to integrating modern technology into everyday life, laying the groundwork for further growth in internet usage in subsequent years.

Cameroon

In 2003, Cameroon had an internet usage rate of 0.587623%, ranking 162 out of 210 countries in terms of the percentage of its population using the internet. This low rate reflects the country's limited technological infrastructure and access to digital resources at the time.

Several factors contributed to this statistic, including a lack of widespread telecommunications networks, high costs associated with internet access, and limited digital literacy among the population. Additionally, economic challenges and a focus on more pressing social issues likely impeded the growth of internet usage.

Interestingly, by comparison, many countries in the region were also experiencing low internet penetration rates during this period, highlighting a broader trend in Sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2023, internet usage has significantly increased across the continent, illustrating the rapid technological advancements and investments in infrastructure over the past two decades.

Georgia

In 2003, Georgia had an internet usage rate of 2.56% of its population, ranking 131 out of 210 countries in terms of internet penetration. This low percentage reflects the country's ongoing challenges in telecommunications infrastructure and broader socio-economic factors following the turbulent political and economic landscape of the early 2000s.

The limited access to the internet during this period can be attributed to several factors, including the aftermath of the civil conflicts in the 1990s, which hampered the development of necessary technological infrastructure. Additionally, economic constraints and a relatively low level of digital literacy among the population further impeded widespread internet adoption.

As a point of comparison, the global average internet usage rate in the early 2000s was significantly higher, indicating that many countries had already begun to experience the benefits of digital connectivity. Over the subsequent years, however, Georgia made notable advancements in improving its internet infrastructure, contributing to a steady increase in usage rates.

Chad

In 2003, Chad ranked 180 out of 210 countries in terms of internet usage, with an estimated 0.320309% of its population having access to the internet. This low percentage reflects the country’s underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure and limited access to modern technology.

Factors contributing to this low internet usage rate include high levels of poverty, a lack of investment in technological development, and geographical challenges that hinder the establishment of internet connectivity. Additionally, political instability and social issues have further impeded efforts to expand internet access.

During this period, Chad faced significant challenges in bridging the digital divide, which has implications for education, economic development, and access to information. The global trend toward increasing internet penetration highlights the disparities faced by countries like Chad in achieving connectivity.

El Salvador

In 2003, El Salvador ranked 132nd out of 210 countries in terms of internet usage, with a rate of only 2.5% of the population having access to the internet. This low percentage reflects the country's early stage of internet adoption, which was influenced by various factors including limited infrastructure, economic constraints, and a lack of digital literacy.

The relatively low internet usage can be attributed to the country's economic situation at the time, where a significant portion of the population lived below the poverty line, making it challenging for many to afford internet access. Additionally, rural areas were particularly underserved in terms of telecommunications infrastructure, further exacerbating the digital divide.

As a point of comparison, global internet usage was rapidly increasing during this period, driven by technological advancements and decreasing costs of internet services. By contrast, El Salvador's internet penetration was significantly lower than many of its regional neighbors, highlighting the challenges the country faced in bridging the digital gap.

Zimbabwe

In 2003, Zimbabwe had an internet usage rate of 1.8% of its population, ranking 144th out of 210 countries. This low percentage reflects significant barriers to internet access, including limited infrastructure, high costs of connectivity, and economic challenges faced by the country during a period of political instability.

The underdeveloped telecommunications sector, coupled with a lack of investment in technology, contributed to Zimbabwe's relatively low internet penetration at the time. Additionally, widespread economic hardships and hyperinflation limited the ability of citizens to afford internet services or devices.

As a point of reference, the global average internet penetration was rapidly increasing during this period, highlighting the disparities in digital access between Zimbabwe and many other nations. The situation in Zimbabwe exemplifies the broader issues of digital divide and access to information technology in developing regions.

Qatar

In 2003, Qatar had an internet usage rate of 19.24%, ranking 64th out of 210 countries in terms of internet penetration. This statistic reflects the country's early stages of digital adoption, as it was beginning to invest in telecommunications infrastructure and technology education.

The relatively low percentage of internet users during this period can be attributed to several factors, including the nascent state of technological development, limited accessibility in rural areas, and a smaller population base. Despite these challenges, Qatar's government initiated various initiatives aimed at enhancing digital connectivity, which would later lead to significant growth in internet usage.

By 2023, Qatar has become one of the leaders in the region regarding internet connectivity and digital services, showcasing a remarkable transformation from its early 21st-century status. This evolution reflects broader global trends towards increasing internet accessibility and the pivotal role of technology in economic development.

Ireland

In 2003, Ireland ranked 32nd out of 210 countries in terms of internet usage, with a rate of 34.31% of its population accessing the internet. This figure reflects the significant growth of internet accessibility in Ireland during the early 2000s, as the country was undergoing a technological transformation.

Several factors contributed to this statistic, including the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, increasing affordability of personal computers, and a burgeoning interest in digital technologies among the Irish population. The government also played a role through initiatives aimed at enhancing information and communication technology (ICT) in education and public services.

Interestingly, by the mid-2000s, Ireland was recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, often referred to as the "Celtic Tiger," which further accelerated technological adoption and internet penetration in subsequent years.

Mozambique

In 2003, Mozambique ranked 173rd out of 210 countries in terms of internet usage, with an internet penetration rate of only 0.42% of the population. This low figure reflects the country's limited access to technology and infrastructure, significantly affecting the ability of its citizens to connect to the internet.

The minimal internet usage rate in Mozambique can be attributed to several factors, including economic challenges, insufficient telecommunications infrastructure, and high levels of poverty. Many areas, especially rural regions, lacked the necessary resources to support internet connectivity, and the cost of accessing technology was prohibitively high for the majority of the population.

Furthermore, the early 2000s saw Mozambique recovering from years of civil conflict, which had devastated its infrastructure and hindered development. In comparison, countries with higher internet penetration rates during this period often had more robust economies and established technological frameworks, highlighting the disparities in global digital access.

Madagascar

In 2003, Madagascar ranked 172nd out of 210 countries in terms of Internet usage rate, with only 0.423252% of its population having access to the Internet. This low percentage reflects the significant challenges faced by the nation in terms of telecommunications infrastructure and economic development.

The limited Internet penetration can be attributed to various factors, including high poverty levels, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of investment in technology. Furthermore, Madagascar's geographic isolation as an island nation complicates the logistics of establishing widespread connectivity.

As a point of reference, the global average Internet usage rate in 2003 was substantially higher, indicating that many countries were already experiencing the benefits of digital connectivity. The growth of the Internet in Madagascar has since been a focus of development initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility and promoting economic opportunities.

Data Source

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for digital technologies (ICTs). The Organization is made up of a membership of 194 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and with regional offices on every continent, ITU is the oldest agency in the UN family – has been connecting people for over 160 years.

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Historical Data by Year

Explore Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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