Almost half the planet will use the internet this year

The Internet, 2015. Population: 3.2 billion. At least, that’s the number of people predicted to be using the net by the end of the year anyway.

Earth’s current population resides somewhere around 7.2 billion, so that means nearly half the planet will be logging on throughout 2015, according to new estimates.

The data comes courtesy of a new report by the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations body.

It claims that of the 3.2 billion netizens, around 2 billion will be living in the developing world.

Interestingly, the report claims there will be upwards of 7 billion mobile device subscriptions worldwide by the end of 2015.

In the US and Europe, 78 per cent of people already use mobile broadband, and 69 per cent of the global population have access to 3G connections.

Africa, meanwhile, has just 17.4 per cent mobile broadband penetration, which is thanks to a lack of mobile infrastructure.

Regardless, there is a general upwards trend globally regarding internet uptake. In 2000, just 400 million people used the internet globally.

“Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way,” said Brahima Sanou, ITU’s telecoms development director.

“ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society.”

Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015

It’s not rosy news for everyone, however, as many countries still lack the necessary infrastructure to migrate to the digital age.

The United Nations has a list of the least developed countries on the planet. There are 48 nations listed, with a combined population of 980 million.

Unfortunately, just 89 million individuals from these nations will use the internet this year. The list includes places like Nepal, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia.