About 6.3 billion people use the internet in 2026, up from a revised 6.1 billion last year, according to the International Telecommunication Union’s 2026 connectivity report. That brings global internet use to 76% of the population, while an estimated two billion people remain offline.
Coverage and use tell different stories
The ITU estimates that 97% of the world’s population lives within reach of at least a 3G network. Yet internet use stands at 93% in high-income countries and 32% in low-income countries. The gap extends to newer infrastructure. The ITU puts 5G coverage at 86% in high-income countries and 4% in low-income countries.
How much data people use also varies. Monthly mobile broadband traffic averages 20 GB per subscription in high-income countries and 3.4 GB in low-income countries. A household that can buy enough data for messaging may still find video lessons or large downloads expensive.
What the numbers mean for Uganda
The Uganda Communications Commission reported 18.5 million internet subscriptions as of December 2025. Subscriptions count connections and can include more than one line held by the same person. The ITU’s usage estimate counts people, so the measures answer different questions.
For Uganda, the next test of network expansion is how many households can afford a suitable device and enough data to get online regularly. Tracking device prices, data costs and individual use alongside tower coverage would show where the barriers persist.
