Internet use more common in wealthier countries Adults who use the internetatleast occasionally or report owning a smartphone Canada Australia Sweden Netherlands South Korea Sweden Netherlands
Internet penetration rates – as measured by internet use or smartphone ownership – remain high in North America and much of Europe, as well as in parts of the Asia-Pacific. Among the countries surveyed, South Korea stands out as the most heavily connected society, with 96% of adults reporting internet use. Yet, others are not far behind. In Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, the U.S., Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, roughly nine-in-ten report internet use.
The global digital divide is largely an economic story. Richer countries, as measured by gross domestic product per capita (purchasing power parity), tend to have higher rates of internet use, while poorer countries tend to have lower rates. This pattern has been consistent across prior surveys and remains today for both internet use and smartphone ownership.
The pattern of smartphone ownership is similar to internet use, with people in wealthier countries exhibiting higher rates of ownership. But the gap in smartphone ownership is narrower than in the past, as many move directly from not owning a phone at all to owning a mobile device. Landline phones are simply being skipped by large numbers of people in emerging and developing markets.
Internet use more common in wealthier countries  | Adults who use the internetatleast occasionally or report owning a smartphone  | 100 %  | Canada Australia Sweden Netherlands  | South Korea  | Sweden Netherlands  | Canada  | Israel  | 90  | UK  | U.S.  | Spain  | Germany  | France  | Lebanon  | Chile Russia  | Jordan  | 80  | Argentine Turkey  | Argentine Turkey  | Japan  | Colombia  | Poland  | Brazil  | Hungary  | China  | Italy  | 70  | Mexico  | Vietnam  | Greece  | Peru  | 60  | South Africa  | Philippines  | 50  | Senegal  | Tunisia  | Kenya  | Nigeria  | 40  | Ghana  | North America  | Europe  | 30  | Indonesia  | Russia  | Tanzania  | India  | Asia/ Pacific  | Middle East  | 20  | Sub Saharan Africa  | Latin America  | 10  | $0  | $10, LOOO  | $20 LOOO  | $30 000  | $40, 000  | $50 LOOO  | $60 000  | 2015 GDP per capita (PPP, current internationals)  | Note: GDP per capita data notavailable for Venezuela Q63, Q65. Percenta U.S. gesare based on total sample.  | Source Spring 2017 Global Attitudes Survey, Q63, & Q65. U.S. data gesare froma Pew Research Center survey conducted UJAN. 3-10 2018. China  | data from 2016 Global Attitudes Survey. GDP Q63, data from the World Bank accessed June 2, 2017 (China data conducted a ccessed UJAN. May 30. 2018).  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 