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The internet represents a fundamental shift in how Americans connect with one another, gather information and conduct their day-to-day lives. For more than 15 years, Pew Research Center has documented its growth and distribution in the United States. Explore the patterns of internet and home broadband adoption below.

Internet use over time

When Pew Research Center began systematically tracking Americans’ internet usage in early 2000, about half of all adults were already online. Today, 93% of American adults use the internet.

Year U.S. adults
2000 52%
2001 55%
2002 59%
2003 61%
2004 63%
2005 68%
2006 71%
2007 74%
2008 74%
2009 76%
2010 76%
2011 79%
2012 83%
2013 84%
2014 84%
2015 86%
2016 88%
2018 89%
2019 90%
2021 93%

Pew Research Center

Who uses the internet

For some demographic groups – such as young adults, college graduates and those from high-income households – internet usage is near ubiquitous. Even so, adoption gaps remain based on factors such as age, income, and education.

AGE
RACE
GENDER
INCOME
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
2000 70% 61% 46% 14%
2001 72% 65% 50% 14%
2002 76% 70% 54% 18%
2003 78% 72% 56% 22%
2004 77% 75% 61% 24%
2005 83% 79% 66% 28%
2006 86% 82% 70% 32%
2007 89% 85% 71% 35%
2008 89% 84% 72% 38%
2009 92% 84% 75% 40%
2010 92% 85% 74% 43%
2011 94% 87% 77% 46%
2012 96% 91% 79% 54%
2013 97% 92% 81% 56%
2014 97% 92% 81% 57%
2015 97% 95% 82% 63%
2016 99% 96% 87% 64%
2018 98% 97% 87% 66%
2019 100% 97% 88% 73%
2021 99% 98% 96% 75%

Pew Research Center

White Black Hispanic
2000 53% 38%
2001 57% 40%
2002 60% 47%
2003 63% 50%
2004 65% 49%
2005 70% 55%
2006 72% 59%
2007 75% 64%
2008 75% 63%
2009 79% 69%
2010 78% 68% 71%
2011 81% 72% 72%
2012 84% 77% 79%
2013 85% 79% 80%
2014 85% 79% 81%
2015 87% 81% 82%
2016 88% 85% 88%
2018 89% 87% 88%
2019 92% 85% 86%
2021 93% 91% 95%

Pew Research Center

Men Women
2000 54% 50%
2001 57% 53%
2002 61% 57%
2003 63% 60%
2004 66% 61%
2005 69% 67%
2006 72% 70%
2007 75% 73%
2008 74% 73%
2009 77% 75%
2010 77% 76%
2011 80% 78%
2012 83% 82%
2013 84% 84%
2014 84% 84%
2015 86% 86%
2016 89% 86%
2018 89% 88%
2019 90% 91%
2021 94% 93%

Pew Research Center

Less than $30,000 $30,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000+
2000 34% 58% 72% 81%
2001 36% 60% 75% 84%
2002 39% 64% 76% 85%
2003 41% 66% 81% 87%
2004 44% 68% 83% 88%
2005 49% 73% 86% 92%
2006 52% 75% 86% 92%
2007 58% 74% 86% 93%
2008 54% 78% 88% 95%
2009 60% 79% 92% 95%
2010 61% 81% 88% 95%
2011 64% 85% 90% 97%
2012 70% 87% 93% 97%
2013 72% 86% 93% 97%
2014 74% 86% 93% 96%
2015 76% 86% 94% 97%
2016 79% 90% 95% 98%
2018 81% 93% 97% 98%
2019 82% 93% 97% 98%
2021 86% 91% 98% 99%

Pew Research Center

Less than high school graduate High school graduate High school or less Some college College graduate
2000 19% 40% 67% 78%
2001 21% 43% 68% 81%
2002 24% 48% 73% 83%
2003 25% 51% 75% 85%
2004 27% 53% 76% 86%
2005 32% 58% 80% 89%
2006 37% 61% 83% 91%
2007 40% 65% 85% 92%
2008 38% 65% 86% 93%
2009 40% 68% 87% 94%
2010 41% 68% 87% 93%
2011 43% 72% 89% 94%
2012 52% 75% 91% 96%
2013 54% 75% 92% 96%
2014 55% 76% 91% 96%
2015 62% 78% 92% 96%
2016 68% 81% 94% 98%
2018 65% 84% 93% 97%
2019 71% 84% 95% 98%
2021 86% 97% 98%

Pew Research Center

Urban Suburban Rural
2000 53% 56% 42%
2001 55% 59% 46%
2002 61% 63% 49%
2003 64% 65% 51%
2004 65% 67% 53%
2005 69% 70% 60%
2006 71% 73% 62%
2007 75% 77% 63%
2008 75% 77% 63%
2009 73% 76% 68%
2010 78% 79% 69%
2011 80% 81% 73%
2012 84% 84% 75%
2013 86% 85% 78%
2014 85% 85% 79%
2015 87% 88% 78%
2016 89% 90% 81%
2018 92% 90% 78%
2019 91% 94% 85%
2021 95% 94% 90%

Pew Research Center

Home broadband use over time

The proportion of American adults with high-speed broadband service at home increased rapidly between 2000 and 2010. In recent years, however, broadband adoption growth has been much more sporadic. Today, roughly three-quarters of American adults have broadband internet service at home.

U.S. adults
3/31/2000 1%
3/1/2001 6%
9/10/2001 7%
9/19/2001 7%
10/1/2001 6%
10/7/2001 6%
10/18/2001 8%
11/18/2001 8%
12/23/2001 9%
1/31/2002 9%
5/19/2002 11%
7/26/2002 11%
10/6/2002 15%
10/27/2002 12%
11/24/2002 15%
12/22/2002 12%
3/24/2003 15%
3/25/2003 16%
5/20/2003 16%
6/24/2003 16%
8/3/2003 17%
12/14/2003 19%
3/1/2004 24%
3/17/2004 25%
6/17/2004 23%
7/3/2004 25%
11/22/2004 26%
11/30/2004 25%
2/9/2005 29%
3/21/2005 29%
6/7/2005 33%
12/8/2005 37%
12/31/2005 36%
2/6/2006 41%
3/28/2006 42%
4/6/2006 42%
8/31/2006 43%
12/4/2006 46%
12/30/2006 44%
9/5/2007 51%
12/2/2007 54%
1/13/2008 51%
5/11/2008 54%
8/10/2008 58%
8/31/2008 57%
12/4/2008 56%
12/20/2008 55%
4/19/2009 62%
6/21/2009 62%
9/14/2009 62%
12/27/2009 59%
1/19/2010 61%
5/30/2010 64%
9/13/2010 60%
11/24/2010 60%
12/21/2010 62%
5/22/2011 60%
8/26/2011 62%
1/8/2012 67%
2/19/2012 65%
4/3/2012 66%
11/10/2012 68%
12/9/2012 65%
5/19/2013 70%
9/30/2013 70%
4/12/2015 66%
7/12/2015 67%
11/15/2015 67%
4/4/2016 70%
11/6/2016 73%
1/10/2018 65%
2/7/2019 73%
2/8/2021 77%

Pew Research Center

Who has home broadband

As is true of internet adoption more broadly, home broadband adoption varies across demographic groups. Racial minorities and those with lower levels of education and income are less likely to have broadband service at home.

AGE
RACE
GENDER
INCOME
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
3/31/2000 1% 1% 0%
3/1/2001 7% 8% 5% 1%
9/10/2001 9% 9% 6% 1%
9/19/2001 10% 9% 7% 1%
10/1/2001 8% 8% 5%
10/7/2001 8% 9% 4% 1%
10/18/2001 10% 9% 7% 2%
11/18/2001 10% 10% 5% 2%
12/23/2001 12% 11% 5% 2%
1/31/2002 14% 10% 7% 1%
5/19/2002 14% 13% 9% 2%
7/26/2002 12% 14% 9% 3%
10/6/2002 18% 19% 13% 2%
10/27/2002 19% 17% 7% 1%
11/24/2002 22% 18% 11% 2%
12/22/2002 17% 14% 11% 3%
3/24/2003 22% 20% 12% 2%
3/25/2003 23% 20% 13% 3%
5/20/2003 20% 19% 16% 4%
6/24/2003 24% 19% 15% 3%
8/3/2003 25% 21% 14% 3%
12/14/2003 28% 25% 14% 4%
3/1/2004 34% 28% 22% 5%
3/17/2004 33% 31% 23% 7%
6/17/2004 27% 30% 20% 7%
7/3/2004 32% 31% 24% 7%
11/22/2004 36% 32% 23% 7%
2/9/2005 37% 35% 27% 9%
3/21/2005 38% 37% 26% 7%
6/7/2005 44% 39% 32% 7%
12/8/2005 46% 45% 34% 11%
12/31/2005 46% 43% 34% 11%
2/6/2006 51% 48% 40% 13%
3/28/2006 54% 47% 45% 13%
4/6/2006 55% 51% 38% 14%
8/31/2006 52% 54% 41% 14%
12/4/2006 61% 54% 41% 16%
12/30/2006 58% 55% 40% 15%
9/5/2007 66% 60% 50% 17%
1/13/2008 64% 63% 47% 21%
5/11/2008 69% 68% 49% 19%
8/10/2008 70% 67% 55% 27%
8/31/2008 73% 68% 52% 24%
12/4/2008 72% 68% 51% 24%
12/20/2008 67% 63% 52% 26%
4/19/2009 74% 71% 60% 30%
6/21/2009 74% 75% 58% 31%
9/14/2009 78% 69% 61% 29%
12/27/2009 77% 67% 56% 25%
1/19/2010 79% 70% 57% 27%
5/30/2010 76% 74% 62% 30%
9/13/2010 78% 68% 56% 27%
11/24/2010 75% 71% 58% 27%
12/21/2010 71% 71% 63% 33%
5/22/2011 72% 72% 57% 28%
8/26/2011 76% 70% 60% 30%
2/19/2012 72% 74% 65% 35%
4/3/2012 75% 77% 62% 39%
11/10/2012 76% 78% 66% 41%
12/9/2012 75% 74% 62% 41%
5/19/2013 80% 78% 69% 43%
9/30/2013 81% 77% 68% 47%
4/12/2015 75% 73% 66% 40%
7/12/2015 75% 76% 62% 48%
11/15/2015 75% 74% 67% 47%
4/4/2016 80% 78% 66% 49%
11/6/2016 77% 81% 75% 51%
1/10/2018 67% 70% 68% 50%
2/7/2019 77% 77% 79% 59%
2/8/2021 70% 86% 79% 64%

Pew Research Center

White Black Hispanic
3/31/2000 1% 1%
9/10/2001 8% 3%
9/19/2001 7% 6%
10/1/2001 6% 3%
10/7/2001 7%
10/18/2001 8% 5%
12/23/2001 9% 5%
1/31/2002 9% 5%
5/19/2002 11% 6%
7/26/2002 11% 6%
10/6/2002 14% 12%
10/27/2002 13% 7%
11/24/2002 15% 11%
12/22/2002 13% 4%
3/24/2003 16% 7%
3/25/2003 17% 7%
5/20/2003 17% 8%
6/24/2003 18% 9%
8/3/2003 18% 12%
12/14/2003 20% 12%
3/1/2004 25% 13%
3/17/2004 25% 20%
6/17/2004 25% 10%
7/3/2004 26% 14%
11/22/2004 27% 16%
11/30/2004 28%
2/9/2005 32% 13%
3/21/2005 30% 14%
6/7/2005 34% 18%
12/8/2005 39% 24%
12/31/2005 38% 22%
2/6/2006 42% 24%
3/28/2006 40% 35%
4/6/2006 43% 32%
8/31/2006 44% 34%
12/4/2006 48% 33%
12/30/2006 45% 37%
9/5/2007 51% 42%
12/2/2007 56% 38%
1/13/2008 53% 41%
5/11/2008 56% 41%
8/10/2008 57% 48%
8/31/2008 57% 46%
12/4/2008 59% 39%
12/20/2008 59% 43%
4/19/2009 64% 43%
6/21/2009 65%
9/14/2009 68% 51%
12/27/2009 63% 50%
1/19/2010 63% 49%
5/30/2010 66% 54%
9/13/2010 64% 50% 49%
11/24/2010 65% 49% 43%
12/21/2010 66% 51% 49%
5/22/2011 65% 49% 46%
8/26/2011 66% 49% 51%
1/8/2012 67% 60%
2/19/2012 69% 57% 44%
4/3/2012 70% 54% 51%
11/10/2012 72% 60% 47%
12/9/2012 70% 53% 49%
5/19/2013 74% 64% 53%
9/30/2013 74% 62% 56%
4/12/2015 70% 52% 50%
7/12/2015 71% 56% 53%
11/15/2015 73% 55% 47%
4/4/2016 75% 66% 47%
11/6/2016 78% 65% 58%
1/18/2018 72% 57% 47%
2/7/2019 79% 66% 61%
2/8/2021 80% 71% 65%

Pew Research Center

Men Women
3/31/2000 1% 1%
3/1/2001 7% 5%
9/10/2001 8% 6%
9/19/2001 9% 5%
10/1/2001 7% 5%
10/7/2001 8% 5%
10/18/2001 11% 4%
11/18/2001 9% 6%
12/23/2001 10% 7%
1/31/2002 10% 7%
5/19/2002 12% 9%
7/26/2002 12% 9%
10/6/2002 17% 12%
10/27/2002 15% 9%
11/24/2002 18% 11%
12/22/2002 14% 11%
3/24/2003 18% 13%
3/25/2003 18% 14%
5/20/2003 19% 13%
6/24/2003 19% 14%
8/3/2003 19% 15%
12/14/2003 22% 17%
3/1/2004 27% 21%
3/17/2004 30% 22%
6/17/2004 27% 20%
7/3/2004 28% 23%
11/22/2004 29% 23%
11/30/2004 27% 24%
2/9/2005 31% 27%
3/21/2005 31% 28%
6/7/2005 36% 30%
12/8/2005 40% 34%
12/31/2005 39% 32%
2/6/2006 42% 39%
3/28/2006 45% 39%
4/6/2006 46% 39%
8/31/2006 47% 40%
12/4/2006 49% 43%
12/30/2006 47% 42%
9/5/2007 54% 49%
12/2/2007 58% 51%
1/13/2008 55% 48%
5/11/2008 57% 52%
8/10/2008 58% 58%
8/31/2008 59% 54%
12/4/2008 61% 52%
12/20/2008 56% 54%
4/19/2009 63% 61%
6/21/2009 62% 61%
9/14/2009 64% 60%
12/27/2009 61% 58%
1/19/2010 65% 58%
5/30/2010 64% 64%
9/13/2010 62% 59%
11/24/2010 60% 61%
12/21/2010 65% 60%
5/22/2011 60% 60%
8/26/2011 65% 59%
1/8/2012 67% 67%
2/19/2012 66% 64%
4/3/2012 66% 66%
11/10/2012 68% 67%
12/9/2012 65% 66%
5/19/2013 71% 69%
9/30/2013 70% 70%
4/12/2015 65% 66%
7/12/2015 67% 67%
11/15/2015 67% 67%
4/4/2016 72% 68%
11/6/2016 74% 72%
1/10/2018 66% 64%
2/7/2019 73% 73%
2/8/2021 77% 77%

Pew Research Center

Less than $30,000 $30,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000+
3/31/2000 0% 0% 1% 2%
9/10/2001 2% 4% 8% 20%
9/19/2001 3% 8% 10% 16%
10/1/2001 2% 5% 8% 14%
10/7/2001 3% 4%
10/18/2001 4% 5% 10% 19%
11/18/2001 4% 7% 11% 18%
12/23/2001 4% 7% 10% 23%
1/31/2002 4% 6% 11% 22%
5/19/2002 5% 8% 13% 25%
7/26/2002 4% 10% 14% 23%
10/6/2002 6% 11% 26% 32%
10/27/2002 7% 10% 12% 26%
11/24/2002 7% 13% 16% 34%
12/22/2002 5% 12% 16% 27%
3/24/2003 7% 11% 22% 32%
3/25/2003 7% 11% 22% 33%
5/20/2003 7% 14% 25% 30%
6/24/2003 7% 14% 21% 37%
8/3/2003 8% 14% 22% 38%
12/14/2003 9% 16% 25% 42%
3/1/2004 10% 23% 36% 46%
3/17/2004 13% 25% 27% 49%
6/17/2004 12% 18% 31% 48%
7/3/2004 12% 19% 35% 48%
11/22/2004 13% 25% 34% 54%
11/30/2004 12% 24% 37% 50%
2/9/2005 15% 27% 32% 58%
3/21/2005 15% 27% 38% 56%
6/7/2005 18% 29% 44% 63%
12/8/2005 21% 30% 46% 64%
12/31/2005 17% 30% 52% 63%
2/6/2006 22% 32% 51% 67%
3/28/2006 29% 40% 52% 69%
4/6/2006 22% 44% 49% 68%
8/31/2006 22% 39% 56% 74%
12/4/2006 26% 44% 50% 77%
12/30/2006 24% 46% 61% 73%
12/2/2007 40% 52% 69% 78%
1/13/2008 28% 51% 61% 77%
5/11/2008 31% 53% 67% 82%
8/10/2008 38% 59% 68% 79%
8/31/2008 36% 53% 71% 83%
12/4/2008 31% 61% 73% 85%
12/20/2008 33% 57% 69% 83%
4/19/2009 39% 61% 79% 85%
6/21/2009 45% 53% 83% 87%
9/14/2009 42% 66% 82% 88%
12/27/2009 41% 62% 78% 83%
1/19/2010 45% 61% 74% 87%
5/30/2010 42% 65% 79% 87%
9/13/2010 40% 64% 80% 88%
11/24/2010 42% 66% 75% 89%
12/21/2010 41% 65% 81% 88%
5/22/2011 40% 70% 79% 88%
8/26/2011 41% 65% 81% 89%
1/8/2012 47% 67% 81% 88%
2/19/2012 45% 64% 82% 91%
4/3/2012 46% 68% 85% 87%
11/10/2012 47% 71% 83% 90%
12/9/2012 46% 69% 79% 89%
5/19/2013 54% 70% 84% 88%
9/30/2013 52% 71% 85% 91%
4/12/2015 44% 72% 83% 90%
7/12/2015 47% 64% 78% 89%
11/15/2015 45% 68% 81% 88%
4/4/2016 49% 73% 80% 91%
11/6/2016 53% 71% 83% 93%
1/10/2018 45% 67% 79% 87%
2/7/2019 56% 72% 87% 92%
2/8/2021 57% 74% 87% 92%

Pew Research Center

Less than high school graduate High school graduate High school or less Some college College graduate
3/31/2000 1% 0% 1%
3/1/2001 2% 4% 8% 11%
9/10/2001 2% 5% 8% 13%
9/19/2001 1% 4% 11% 12%
10/1/2001 5% 6% 10%
10/7/2001 4% 8% 11%
10/18/2001 3% 6% 9% 12%
11/18/2001 1% 5% 11% 14%
12/23/2001 3% 4% 11% 17%
1/31/2002 4% 4% 11% 16%
5/19/2002 3% 6% 14% 18%
7/26/2002 3% 7% 15% 17%
10/6/2002 3% 10% 20% 24%
10/27/2002 9% 6% 13% 22%
11/24/2002 4% 10% 18% 24%
12/22/2002 2% 7% 15% 23%
3/24/2003 4% 12% 17% 26%
3/25/2003 4% 12% 18% 27%
5/20/2003 5% 11% 20% 25%
6/24/2003 5% 10% 24% 24%
8/3/2003 4% 12% 20% 29%
12/14/2003 9% 12% 24% 31%
3/1/2004 7% 16% 31% 40%
3/17/2004 10% 19% 31% 39%
6/17/2004 8% 16% 29% 38%
7/3/2004 6% 18% 28% 42%
11/22/2004 7% 14% 31% 47%
11/30/2004 13% 31% 47%
2/9/2005 12% 19% 34% 47%
3/21/2005 9% 20% 36% 47%
6/7/2005 13% 23% 39% 52%
12/8/2005 13% 27% 44% 56%
12/31/2005 14% 25% 44% 55%
2/6/2006 19% 29% 50% 58%
3/28/2006 19% 30% 49% 63%
4/6/2006 17% 32% 48% 63%
8/31/2006 12% 31% 52% 66%
12/4/2006 17% 34% 55% 69%
12/30/2006 16% 32% 53% 68%
9/5/2007 26% 39% 63% 72%
12/2/2007 22% 43% 63% 75%
1/13/2008 21% 40% 61% 72%
5/11/2008 29% 39% 64% 78%
8/10/2008 24% 48% 68% 78%
8/31/2008 22% 44% 67% 82%
12/4/2008 20% 45% 67% 81%
12/20/2008 17% 43% 65% 84%
4/19/2009 27% 51% 69% 82%
6/21/2009 46% 75% 86%
9/14/2009 25% 54% 71% 84%
12/27/2009 24% 45% 73% 82%
1/19/2010 28% 49% 71% 82%
5/30/2010 31% 51% 75% 86%
9/13/2010 22% 49% 72% 82%
11/24/2010 22% 50% 71% 82%
12/21/2010 27% 51% 76% 80%
5/22/2011 22% 48% 71% 83%
8/26/2011 22% 52% 73% 85%
1/8/2012 23% 56% 80% 87%
2/19/2012 25% 52% 76% 90%
4/3/2012 34% 55% 74% 87%
11/10/2012 29% 55% 78% 87%
12/9/2012 27% 56% 73% 85%
5/19/2013 37% 57% 78% 89%
9/30/2013 28% 58% 80% 90%
4/12/2015 22% 53% 75% 86%
7/12/2015 30% 54% 74% 87%
11/15/2015 22% 56% 75% 88%
4/4/2016 24% 59% 80% 90%
11/6/2016 34% 62% 80% 91%
1/10/2018 24% 56% 68% 85%
2/7/2019 46% 59% 77% 93%
2/8/2021 59% 80% 94%

Pew Research Center

Urban Suburban Rural
3/31/2000 1% 1% 0%
3/1/2001 7% 7% 2%
9/10/2001 8% 8% 3%
9/19/2001 9% 8% 3%
10/1/2001 6% 7% 3%
10/7/2001 7% 9% 2%
10/18/2001 9% 9% 2%
12/23/2001 11% 10% 4%
1/31/2002 9% 11% 4%
5/19/2002 10% 14% 4%
7/26/2002 12% 13% 3%
10/6/2002 18% 17% 6%
10/27/2002 16% 13% 6%
11/24/2002 18% 17% 6%
12/22/2002 16% 13% 6%
3/24/2003 18% 17% 8%
3/25/2003 19% 17% 9%
5/20/2003 20% 17% 8%
6/24/2003 18% 20% 7%
8/3/2003 20% 19% 9%
12/14/2003 21% 23% 10%
3/1/2004 26% 29% 10%
3/17/2004 27% 29% 14%
6/17/2004 27% 27% 12%
7/3/2004 29% 29% 12%
11/22/2004 29% 28% 16%
11/30/2004 29% 29% 11%
2/9/2005 29% 33% 19%
3/21/2005 32% 33% 18%
6/7/2005 38% 34% 21%
12/8/2005 41% 40% 23%
12/31/2005 36% 40% 23%
2/6/2006 42% 46% 24%
3/28/2006 38% 39% 19%
4/6/2006 45% 47% 25%
8/31/2006 46% 46% 28%
12/4/2006 47% 51% 29%
12/30/2006 48% 46% 32%
9/5/2007 52% 54% 35%
12/2/2007 60% 56% 41%
1/13/2008 54% 56% 34%
5/11/2008 56% 59% 38%
8/10/2008 63% 59% 43%
8/31/2008 57% 62% 40%
12/4/2008 55% 61% 44%
12/20/2008 54% 57% 36%
4/19/2009 62% 63% 42%
6/21/2009 58% 60% 43%
9/14/2009 60% 63% 50%
12/27/2009 60% 64% 47%
1/19/2010 64% 63% 52%
5/30/2010 67% 69% 49%
9/13/2010 62% 63% 51%
11/24/2010 61% 65% 55%
12/21/2010 62% 68% 52%
5/22/2011 62% 63% 52%
8/26/2011 64% 65% 55%
1/8/2012 74% 69% 48%
2/19/2012 65% 70% 53%
4/3/2012 67% 70% 53%
11/10/2012 70% 71% 55%
12/9/2012 64% 67% 63%
5/19/2013 70% 73% 62%
9/30/2013 70% 74% 60%
4/12/2015 65% 69% 58%
7/12/2015 68% 72% 50%
11/15/2015 67% 71% 56%
4/4/2016 72% 71% 61%
11/6/2016 73% 76% 63%
1/10/2018 67% 70% 58%
2/7/2019 75% 79% 63%
2/8/2021 77% 79% 72%

Pew Research Center

Smartphone dependency over time

There has been a steady decline of those who use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home in recent years. Today, 15% of American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home broadband service.

U.S. adults
2013 8%
2014 --
2015 13%
2016 12%
2017 --
2018 20%
2019 17%
2021 15%

Pew Research Center

Who is smartphone dependent

Reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among younger adults, lower-income Americans and those with a high school education or less.

AGE
RACE
GENDER
INCOME
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
2013 12% 9% 7% 3%
2014 -- -- -- --
2015 19% 16% 11% 7%
2016 17% 13% 11% 7%
2017 -- -- -- --
2018 28% 24% 16% 10%
2019 22% 18% 14% 12%
2021 28% 11% 13% 12%

Pew Research Center

White Black Hispanic
2013 6% 10% 16%
2014 -- -- --
2015 10% 19% 23%
2016 9% 15% 23%
2017 -- -- --
2018 14% 24% 35%
2019 12% 23% 25%
2021 12% 17% 25%

Pew Research Center

Men Women
2013 9% 8%
2014 -- --
2015 14% 13%
2016 12% 12%
2017 -- --
2018 20% 19%
2019 17% 16%
2021 14% 15%

Pew Research Center

Less than $30,000 $30,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000+
2013 12% 9% 5% 5%
2014 -- -- -- --
2015 20% 15% 10% 6%
2016 21% 12% 10% 5%
2017 -- -- -- --
2018 31% 22% 14% 9%
2019 26% 20% 10% 6%
2021 27% 19% 6% 6%

Pew Research Center

Less than high school graduate High school graduate High school or less Some college College graduate
2013 14% 11% -- 8% 4%
2014 -- -- -- -- --
2015 21% 17% -- 14% 6%
2016 27% 15% -- 12% 5%
2017 -- -- -- -- --
2018 39% 22% -- 21% 10%
2019 32% 24% -- 16% 4%
2021 23% 15% 4%

Pew Research Center

Urban Suburban Rural
2013 9% 7% 9%
2014 -- -- --
2015 15% 12% 15%
2016 12% 12% 14%
2017 -- -- --
2018 22% 17% 17%
2019 17% 13% 20%
2021 16% 12% 17%

Pew Research Center

Find out more

Find more in-depth explorations of internet and home broadband patterns in the U.S. by following the links below.

Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2019 June 13, 2019
Digital gap between rural and nonrural America persists May 31, 2019
Digital divide persists even as lower-income Americans make gains in tech adoption May 7, 2019
10% of Americans don’t use the internet. Who are they? April 22, 2019
About a quarter of U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online March 14, 2018

All reports and blog posts related to internet access.