Technology emerging usage rates increasing in Technology emerging economies. but still lag emerging behind rich countries Adult internet users* Adults owning who report owning a smartphone
In 2013, a median of 45% across 21 emerging and developing countries reported using the internet at least occasionally or owning a smartphone. In 2015, that figure rose to 54%, with much of that increase coming from large emerging economies such as Malaysia, Brazil and China. By comparison, a median of 87% use the internet across 11 advanced economies surveyed in 2015, including the U.S. and Canada, major Western European nations, developed Pacific nations (Australia, Japan and South Korea) and Israel.2 This represents a 33-percentage-point gap compared with emerging and developing nations.
For smartphone ownership, the digital divide between less advanced economies and developed economies is 31 points in 2015. But smartphone ownership rates in emerging and developing nations are rising at an extraordinary rate, climbing from a median of 21% in 2013 to 37% in 2015. And overwhelming majorities in almost every nation surveyed report owning some form of mobile device, even if they are not considered “smartphones.”
Technology emerging usage rates increasing in  | Technology emerging economies. but still lag  | emerging behind rich countries  | Adult internet users*  | Adults owning who report  | owning a  | smartphone  | Advanced economies'  | 87%  | median  | 68%  | 54  | 47  | 45  | Emergine/developing  | 28  | economies" median  | 21  | 2014  | 2015  | 2013  | 2013  | 2014  | 2015  | Note: Percentages based on total sample. Advanced  | economies Percentages median across 11 countries.  | Emerging/ 'developing economies median across 21  | countries Emerging and developing economies median  | includes only Emerging the countries developing surveyed in 2013 2014 and  | 2015.  | Includes those who use the internet at least occasionally or  | report owning a smartphone.  | Source: Spring 2015 Global Attitudes survey. Q70, Q71 &  | Q72.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 