Trailing online markets worldwide 2024

As of October 2024, 87.8 percent of the population in Burundi did not have internet access. The Central African Republic followed, with around 87.5 percent reportedly being offline. North Korea ranked first with an internet penetration of nearly zero percent, as the internet remains blocked for its citizens.

Global internet freedom and access

The degree of internet freedom varies drastically across countries, with some providing open access and others imposing significant restrictions. In 2023, Iceland was leading worldwide in terms of internet freedom, while China ranked the lowest in the world, with strict government surveillance and censorship. The struggle with limited internet access is particularly evident in Africa, which had the lowest internet penetration rates as of 2023.

Global privacy concerns

The limitations and restrictions to internet access around the world prove that internet users' privacy is extremely vulnerable. And those who have access to the web are somewhat aware of that. By the first quarter of 2024, around 30.7 percent of internet users expressed concerns about companies misusing their data. This growing awareness of privacy risks is reflected in users’ behaviour. By June 2023, three in ten internet users worldwide had already taken measures to protect their online privacy, with 22.7 percent opting for tools like VPNs. Additionally, many internet users reported taking further steps, such as enabling multi-factor authentication, to for stronger privacy protections.