96%
of U.S. adults use the internet
Internet use is nearly universal, but the remaining gap still affects access to services, learning, work, and community information.
Source: Pew Research Center, Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗← Insights
Reference data
Digital access statistics
Current figures on internet use, home broadband, smartphones, and the gaps that still shape online participation in the United States.
Last updated September 9, 2026. Data reflects Pew Research Center's 2025 surveys.
A practical snapshot
Connection is common. Meaningful access still is not.
Digital access is more than a coverage map or a device in a drawer. It is whether a person has a dependable way to complete an application, join a video call, learn a new skill, manage an account, or stay connected with the people and services that matter.
These figures are collected here as a clear reference for community organizations, educators, local leaders, and writers covering technology access. Each statistic links to the original source.
78%
of U.S. adults subscribe to home broadband
A reliable home connection remains distinct from simply having a phone that can get online.
Source: Pew Research Center, Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗91%
of U.S. adults own a smartphone
For many people, a smartphone is the main way they reach information, communication, and online services.
Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗16%
of U.S. adults are smartphone-only internet users
These adults own a smartphone but do not subscribe to broadband at home, which can make longer online tasks harder.
Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗90%
of adults age 65 and older use the internet
Older adults are more connected than ever, while still benefiting from patient, practical help with changing tools.
Source: Pew Research Center, Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗20%
of rural adults are smartphone-only internet users
A phone connection can be useful, but it is not always a workable substitute for a home connection or computer.
Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗27%
of adults with a high school education or less are smartphone-only
Digital access is shaped by more than coverage. Device choice, affordability, and confidence also matter.
Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗27%
of adults age 18 to 29 are smartphone-only internet users
Even younger adults who are comfortable online may be completing important tasks without home broadband.
Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, 2025 ↗What the numbers show
A phone can open a door. It cannot solve every access need.
Smartphones make many online tasks possible. They can be a lifeline for communication, directions, school updates, banking alerts, job leads, and public information. But a small screen, limited data, and no reliable place to work can make forms, documents, learning platforms, job applications, and video calls far more difficult.
That is why practical digital support still matters. Communities need affordable connections, usable devices, accessible information, and people who can help others build confidence with the tools in front of them.
Urban Community Tech supports that work through digital skills learning and hands-on technology support for community organizations across Southern Maryland.
Methodology and sources
How to use this page
All figures on this page come from Pew Research Center's 2025 surveys of U.S. adults, fielded from February 5 through June 18, 2025. The Center reports that the survey included 5,022 adults and used methods designed to represent the U.S. adult population.
- Pew Research Center, Internet and Home Broadband Usage in the United States, published November 20, 2025
- Pew Research Center, Mobile Device Ownership and Adoption in the United States, published November 20, 2025
Suggested citation
Urban Community Tech. “Digital Access Statistics: Internet, Broadband, and Smartphones.” Updated September 9, 2026. https://urbancomtech.org/digital-access-statistics.