India Leads World in Offline Population With 684 Million People Without Internet

Despite decades of internet expansion, roughly 37% of the global population — about 2.9 billion people — has never used the internet, according to Statista data. India tops the list of countries with the largest offline populations at 684 million people, followed by China with 336 million, even though China's offline rate is just 24%. The ranking reflects absolute numbers rather than the share of a country's population that lacks access, which is why densely populated nations dominate the list. Pakistan, Nigeria, and Ethiopia also feature prominently, with offline rates of 54%, 55%, and 81% respectively. Experts note that bridging this digital divide remains critical for advancing education, healthcare, and economic opportunity worldwide.