8 charts on technology use around the world
In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.
Across eight countries surveyed in Latin America, Africa and South Asia, a median of 73% of adults say they use WhatsApp and 62% say they use Facebook.
As people in advanced economies reach the upper bounds of internet penetration, the digital divide continues to narrow between wealthy and developing countries.
In each of 14 countries surveyed in 2016, nearly all people reported owning a mobile phone. But the shares who own a smartphone vary considerably.
India and China have long had a competitive relationship and have emerged as major economic powers. But in the digital space, China has a clear advantage.
Many in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan do not report regularly visiting social media sites. But majorities in all of the 14 countries surveyed say they at least use the internet.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, both economically and socially, technology adoption remains one of the defining factors in human progress. To that end, there has been a noticeable rise over the past two years in the percentage of people in the emerging and developing nations surveyed by Pew Research Center who say that they use the internet and own a smartphone.
People in emerging and developing nations are quickly catching up to those in advanced nations in terms of access to technology.
In principle, most people around the world support freedom of expression. But there is a fine line between general support for freedom of speech and support for specific forms of expression.
Our new report looks at how people perceive the internet’s impact on their lives, how many people access it and who they are, and what people do online.
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