Half the world will be online by the end of 2016, UN report

By the end of 2016, almost half of the world's population will be using the internet as mobile networks grow and prices fall, but their numbers will remain concentrated in the developed world, according to a report by the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU). ITU also released an ICT Development Index (IDI). The index  combines 11 indicators on ICT access, use and skills, capturing key aspects of ICT development, and gives IDI value (out of 10). Here are the top 15 countries on the index:

1.South Korea

2. Iceland

3. Denmark 

4. Switzerland

5. UK

6. Hong Kong, China 

7. Sweden 

8. Netherlands

9. Norway

10. Japan

11. Luxembourg

12. Germany

13. New Zeland 

14. Australia

15. USA

Key findings

In several of Africa's poorer and more fragile countries, only one person in 10 is on the internet

Globally, 47% of the world's population is online, still far short of a UN target of 60% by 2020

ITU expects 3.5 bn people to have access by the end of this year

The proportion of the population covered by a mobile-broadband network will reach 84% in 2016 globally, but only 67 per cent in rural areas

Europe continues to lead the way in ICT development. It had the highest average IDI value among world regions (7.35 points). This reflects the region’s high levels of economic development and ICT investment.

Sources: Measuring the Information Society Report, IDI Index, Reuters