Global Internet Reaches 6.12 Billion Users as Bots Generate 53% of Web Traffic in 2026

According to DataReportal, by April 2026, there were 6.12 billion internet users, representing 73.8% of the world's population. A survey conducted by Netcraft in July 2026 identified 1.49 billion websites across 305 million distinct domains. In 2025, bots were responsible for 53% of all web traffic, with malicious bots making up 40% of that figure. By September 2026, mobile devices accounted for 59% of web traffic, and 96.2% of users accessed the internet through their phones. There are 5.83 billion unique mobile users (70.4% of the global population) and 7.64 billion smartphones. WordPress supports 40.2% of websites, while HTTPS is the standard for 90.1%. In 2025, digital platforms captured 74.4% of the $1.16 trillion global advertising market. The digital divide remains stark, with 94% internet penetration in high-income nations compared to just 23% in low-income countries. China leads with nearly 1.3 billion users, followed by India with over 1 billion. DataReportal reported an increase of 59 million new users in the year leading up to April 2026. As of August 2026, global median download speeds were 129.7 Mbps for fixed broadband and 109.1 Mbps for mobile. In 2025, 5G technology reached 55% of the population, with 3.3 billion subscriptions, and the internet is supported by over 600 submarine cables stretching 1.5 million kilometers.