2022 Internet Usage Statistics

Learn about internet usage statistics in 2022.

Spoiler alert: Things are looking good for the online retail and ecommerce space.

​We’re going to talk about the numbers behind the internet. More specifically, we’ll review internet use statistics in 2022 and the direction of online retail and consumer behavior in the ecommerce space.

In a 1995 interview, David Letterman famously asked Bill Gates: “What about this internet thing? Do you know anything about that?” 

He then went on to say, “What the heck is that anyway?”

If you’re of a certain age, you might even remember wondering this yourself. Today, the idea of asking such a question would be ludicrous. For Gen Z’ers – those born after 1997 – it’s probably unthinkable.

The internet has completely transformed the way we communicate, learn, and conduct business. Our smartphones are practically extensions of our bodies. And the internet is part and parcel of daily life. It has created entirely new industries, such as ecommerce. And it’s opened the floodgates of economic opportunity for billions of people around the world.

In this article, we’re going to talk about the numbers behind the internet. More specifically, we’ll review internet use statistics in 2022 and the direction of online retail and consumer behavior in the ecommerce space. As an ecommerce store owner, it’s important to understand who your consumers are and how they might behave. 
That's where data science comes in. Internet use statistics and other predictors of online retail are your best chance at excelling in ecommerce.

Read on to learn more about statistics for internet usage in 2022. Let’s begin by answering a simple question: Who is using the internet?

What percentage of the world uses the internet in 2022?

Almost 20 years after that famed Letterman interview, you might be surprised to learn that several billion people around the globe still aren’t on the internet. Because, in today’s day and age, it seems like everyone is glued to their smartphones. And in places like the US and Europe, this is certainly true. Almost all corporate jobs have some remote capabilities now, and nearly everyone has a smartphone for business or pleasure.


But this isn’t necessarily the case globally.

In fact, as of April 2022, only 63% of the global population uses the internet. That amounts to over 5 billion people on the planet. This is a huge number, of course. But it might come as somewhat of a shock that the entire planet is not hooked up with the internet yet. Trends show, however, that greater adoption of the internet will occur in poor and remote parts of the planet in the coming years.

What is the expectation for internet usage in the future?

The end game is universal internet usage. 2030 is a date that many organizations, like the UN, set for a number of lofty goals. And some researchers believe that 100% internet penetration is possible in Africa by 2030.

Regardless of when it happens, the trajectory is clear: More and more people become connected to the internet each year. And this is great news for ecommerce store owners.

Knowing that billions of additional potential customers are still coming online means that there’s no sign of this industry slowing down.

Current internet use statistics by world region

According to BroadbandSearch.net, Asia has the most internet users worldwide, clocking in at just over 50% of total global internet usage.

The US and Europe have the most pervasive access to the internet, with over 90% of people in both regions hooked up in some way. Northern Europe, in particular, with over 98% of people with internet access, has the highest internet usage per capita in the world.

The African continent is still collectively below the global internet penetration rate. This means the percentage of people who have access to the internet is below average. As of December 2021, 4 out of every 10 people living on the African continent can access the internet. However, this is expected to change drastically in the coming years.

And the Middle East has made huge strides, showing a 6,141% growth in internet usage since 2000.

How has internet consumer behavior changed since the pandemic?

The 2020 global coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated the shift to further online adoption. According to Forbes, people have been shopping online more since the start of the pandemic.

Ecommerce sales increased by 31.8% in the second quarter of 2020 – at the very beginning of lockdown orders and the shift to remote working.

This trend hasn’t ceased even after the pandemic. As we transition back to normal life, pandemic consumer behavior hasn’t changed much. McKinsey notes that “the changes that emerged during the lockdown are persisting.”

Some outlets, like Fortune, say the pandemic has “radically changed consumer behavior” forever. And there’s no indication that things are going back to how they were.

Michael Arnold

Michael is a freelancer from New York City. When he isn’t writing about how Kliken unleashes the marketing, you can find him reading, writing for pleasure, or traveling the globe.

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