Global internet users rose from 12% in 2003 (0.75B people) to 67% in 2023 (5.4B people). This growth transformed global business, enabling e-commerce expansion.
Global internet adoption has surged from 12% in 2003 (0.75B users) to 67% in 2023 (5.4B users), transforming communication, commerce, and the economy. This 7x growth, reported by the World Bank Group, was driven by affordable smartphones, better infrastructure, and global efforts to bridge the digital divide. E-commerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba capitalized on this shift, fueling a $14T digital economy by 2023. Internet-driven innovations such as online retail, digital payments, and remote work have become the backbone of modern life. Yet, challenges persist, with 33% of the global population—mostly in rural areas—still offline. Expanding access and improving affordability could unlock even greater potential for this connected world.
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