Internet Access in United Kingdom: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Updated October 2026 · ⬇ download this dataset (CSV) · methodology

In the 2020s, internet access in United Kingdom stands at 95 % — ranking #9 of 157 countries. In 1900 it was 0 %. (Source: ITU / World Bank, compiled by MYRIAD)

The lives of individuals in the United Kingdom have undergone a profound transformation, as internet access has become an integral part of daily reality. In 1900 it was 0 %, a stark contrast to the 95 % of today, which ranks #9 of 157 countries. This shift has redefined how people communicate, work, and inhabit the modern world.

The historical record reveals a gradual transformation, with internet access standing at 0 % for nearly two centuries, before changing trajectory in the 1990s with 13.78 % and 2000s with 27.56 %, and then accelerating to 61.28 % in the 2010s. The pace of change has been relentless, with the 2020s seeing 95 % internet access, and projections suggesting continued growth to 98 % in the 2030s, before leveling off at 99 % from the 2040s onwards.

As you navigate this digital era, your daily existence is shaped by a connectedness that was unknown to previous generations. The United Kingdom's story is one of rapid transformation, with internet access becoming ubiquitous. To explore how your life fits into the broader trends and patterns, compute your own parallel lives on MYRIAD.

🇬🇧 Share of people using the internet. For United Kingdom, the story across three centuries is below — every value is a statistical fact about the lives actually lived there.

Decade by decade

DecadeInternet Access (%)
1800s estimate0
1810s estimate0
1820s estimate0
1830s estimate0
1840s estimate0
1850s estimate0
1860s estimate0
1870s estimate0
1880s estimate0
1890s estimate0
1900s estimate0
1910s estimate0
1920s estimate0
1930s estimate0
1940s estimate0
1950s0
1960s0
1970s0
1980s0
1990s13.78
2000s27.56
2010s61.28
2020s95
2030s projection98
2040s projection99
2050s projection99
2060s projection99
2070s projection99
2080s projection99
2090s projection99
2100s projection99

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Questions people ask

What is the Internet Access in United Kingdom today?

95 % in the 2020s (ITU / World Bank).

How much did Internet Access in United Kingdom change since 1950?

Reliable 1950s data is not available for this series.

Where does United Kingdom rank worldwide?

#9 of 157 countries covered by MYRIAD in the 2020s.

Where does YOUR life rank? →