With the rise of streaming services, video calls, and other data-heavy online activities, internet data usage has increased dramatically over the past decade. Understanding how much data the average person uses can help internet service providers meet demand, assist businesses in tailoring online services, and provide insight into future internet infrastructure needs.
Quick Answer
The average internet user consumes around 100 gigabytes (GB) of data per month as of 2022. This is up from around 10 GB per month in 2012. However, usage varies significantly by country, demographics, and type of connection.
Global Internet Usage Trends
According to Cisco’s Annual Internet Report, global internet traffic reached over 1 zettabyte (1 trillion gigabytes) per year in 2022. This reflects an increase of 26% from 2021. Video streaming continues to account for the largest share of consumer internet traffic at over 80%.
Internet data usage has risen rapidly along with the growing number of internet users worldwide. There were an estimated 5.3 billion internet users globally in 2022, up from under 2 billion in 2010. This means more people are streaming videos, using social media, and accessing the internet for work and entertainment.
Usage by Country
Data usage varies significantly across different countries and regions. According to a 2022 report by Cable.co.uk, the highest average monthly usage per internet subscriber is in North America:
- North America: 340 GB
- Oceania: 230 GB
- Latin America: 145 GB
- Europe: 110 GB
- Asia: 100 GB
- Africa: 50 GB
This reflects the prevalence of high-speed broadband and data-intensive streaming services in North America. Countries with lower average usage tend to have slower internet speeds, less fixed broadband penetration, and large rural populations with limited connectivity.
Usage in the United States
According to Ookla Speedtest’s Net Index report, the average fixed broadband download speed in the United States as of November 2022 is 177 megabits per second (Mbps). At this speed, a user could theoretically consume over 200 GB per month, but actual usage is lower.
Ookla’s 2021 Internet Performance Report estimates the average monthly data usage per broadband subscriber in the US is anywhere from 100 to 300 GB depending on location. Areas with faster internet speeds tend to consume more data.
According to OpenVault’s Q3 2022 report, the average household with broadband internet uses 482.6 GB per month. This is up 13% from the same quarter last year. Power users in the top 5% consume over 1 terabyte (1,000 GB) per month.
Factors Influencing Data Usage
The most significant factors affecting an individual’s data consumption include:
- Internet speed – Faster speeds allow for streaming higher resolution video and engaging in more simultaneous online activities.
- Number of users – Households with more family members or devices connected tend to use more data.
- Video streaming – Video accounts for over 80% of internet traffic. Streaming in HD or 4K can use 3GB or more per hour.
- Gaming – Online gaming uses less data than video streaming, but can still add up with heavy usage.
- Remote work/learning – Videoconferencing, cloud computing, and other remote activities can consume more data.
- Mobile vs fixed – Mobile data consumption is often much lower than home broadband usage.
Data Usage by Demographic
Within countries, internet data consumption varies significantly across demographic groups. Younger generations tend to be the heaviest data users.
Age
Data from Telecoms.com’s 2022 Digital Consumer Trends report found:
- 18-24 year olds consume an average of 132 GB per month.
- 25-34 year olds consume 117 GB.
- 35-44 year olds consume 109 GB.
- 45-54 year olds consume 100 GB
- Over 55 year olds consume 89 GB.
Younger generations are more likely to engage in high-bandwidth activities like video streaming, online gaming, and social media use. Older demographics tend to use the internet less intensively.
Household Size
Larger households with more devices connected use more data. OpenVault found:
- 1-2 member households average 418 GB per month.
- 3-4 member households average 584 GB.
- 5+ member households average 712 GB.
Having children in the home can also increase usage due to online learning, gaming, and streaming.
Gender
Some data indicates men use slightly more internet data than women. The Telecoms.com report found:
- Men consume an average of 110 GB per month.
- Women consume an average of 98 GB per month.
However, the gap is relatively small and appears to be narrowing as internet use becomes more universal.
Current and Future Trends
Global internet traffic is expected to continue growing rapidly, more than doubling from 2022 to 2027 according to Cisco. Increased adoption of 5G, fibre broadband, WiFi 6, and 10 gigabit home internet will enable higher data consumption.
Key trends that will shape future data usage include:
- Rising video quality – 8K streaming could become more mainstream.
- Growth of the Internet of Things – Connected devices will multiply.
- Remote work and learning – Reliance on video calling and cloud tools will persist.
- Augmented/virtual reality – AR and VR are still nascent technologies.
- User-generated content – More people creating and sharing online.
- Gaming innovations – Cloud, multiplayer, and mobile gaming usage rising.
On the consumer side, falling data prices and removal of unlimited data caps by some providers will also facilitate increased consumption where available. Overall average usage per user could potentially double over the next 5 years.
Conclusion
Global internet data consumption is rising rapidly, fueled by faster speeds, more connected devices, video streaming, remote work, and other innovations. While usage varies widely by country and demographics, the average internet user today consumes around 100 GB per month. With new technologies on the horizon, usage is expected to continue increasing over the coming years as digital connectivity becomes even more integral to work, entertainment, education, and daily life.
