Facts & Figures

ITU statistics paint a stark picture of the information gap separating rich and poor.

• In 2005, fewer than 4 out of every 100 Africans used the internet, compared with 1 out of every 2 people living in the G8 nations.
• The G8 is home to less than 15% of the world’s population, yet it is home to 45% of the world's internet users.
• At present (2004-2005) growth rates, nearly 25 % of people living in the developing world will be online by 2010.
• An estimated 30% of all villages worldwide still have no access to telephone services.
• 79% of Africa’s 27 million fixed phone lines are located in just 6 of its 54 nations Broadband penetration has reached 13% in high-income countries, it remains as low as 2% in middle-income countries and close to zero in low-income countries. An estimated 30 countries still rely on a single 10Mbps international internet connection (or less) to serve their entire population; in wealthy countries, consumers can now buy their own personal 10Mbps connection at very affordable prices.