New data released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Monday indicates that while the number of internet connections is growing, the digital divide is still deepening in other key metrics such as speed, reliability, affordability and skills.

According to the ITU's Facts and Figures 2025 report, roughly 6 billion people - about three-quarters of the world's population - are using the Internet in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. The number of unconnected people dropped from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024 to 2.2 billion in 2025.

While connectivity numbers show progress in getting more people online, the report shows that digital development remains closely linked to economic development, gender, and location, which means several digital divides persist despite the growth in connections.

For example, 94% of people in high-income countries use the Internet, in contrast to only 23% in low-income countries. In fact, the report notes, 96% of those offline live in low- and middle-income countries.

Meanwhile, more men are online than women (77% vs 71%), while urban areas unsurprisingly continue to have higher internet connectivity than rural areas (85% of urban dwellers vs 58% in rural areas).

There's also the question of connection quality. For instance, the report - which measures 5G connectivity for the first time - says that 5G subscriptions now number around 3 billion, which account for about a third of all mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide, with networks cover an estimated 55% of the global population.

However, that 5G coverage is heavily skewed towards high-income countries, where 84% of people have access to 5G, compared with only 4% in low-income countries.

While most people in low- and middle-income countries do have access to 3G and 4G, those services struggle to keep pace with advancing technologies. This quality gap is illustrated in the finding that a typical user in a high-income country now generates nearly eight times more mobile data than one in a low-income country, the report says.

Even when higher-quality mobile broadband connectivity is available in low-income countries, affordability remains a key barrier, despite the continuing decrease in the median price of a data-only mobile broadband package. The ITU report estimates access remains unaffordable in around 60% of low- and middle-income countries.

The digital skills gap also presents a barrier to adoption. According to the report, most Internet users possess basic skills, while more advanced capabilities - such as online safety, problem-solving and digital content creation - are being developed more slowly.

"In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin in a statement. "This report highlights how today's digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity."