The digital divide
2.2 billion people remain offline in 2025, 96% of them in low- and middle-income countries — cut off from services, jobs and information.
How this affects people
As health, education, banking and government move online, being offline means being left out.
Gaps are widest between rural and urban areas and between women and men.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Lack of infrastructure in rural areas
- 02Unaffordable data and devices
- 03Low digital skills
- 04Gender barriers
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Online population keeps growing
About 240 million people came online in 2025.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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