As of the end of 2022, the global human population had reached a staggering 8 billion. In a recent report, the GSM Association, a worldwide association of mobile telecommunications services, revealed that approximately 4.3 billion people, which accounts for around 54 percent of the global population, now own a smartphone.
According to data from GSMA, the number of mobile internet users, encompassing 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, has soared to 4.6 billion individuals, constituting 57 percent of the global population. Among these, a substantial 4 billion access the internet via smartphones. There’s also a segment of 350 million smartphone owners who, surprisingly, do not utilize mobile internet services, while an additional 600 million continue to rely on feature phones for their mobile internet needs.
This surge in mobile internet usage represents a substantial increase from the reported 35 percent in 2015. One contributing factor to this growth may be the significant reduction in the percentage of people without access to mobile internet, which has plummeted from 18 percent seven years ago to a mere 5 percent today.
However, regional disparities in connectivity are still quite pronounced. For instance, approximately 69 percent of smartphone owners in North America, East Asia, and the Pacific region are equipped with 4G-capable devices. In contrast, a significant portion of users in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, still primarily rely on 3G connectivity.
Looking ahead, the trend suggests that the number of smartphone users worldwide will continue to rise. This can be attributed to evolving technology that is making these devices more accessible and affordable. Furthermore, smartphones have become an indispensable part of daily life, particularly for communication and various essential tasks.
