India's Internet User Count Set to Surpass 900 Million This Year, AI Revolutionizes Engagement
Click to start listening
Synopsis
As per a recent report, India's internet user base is expected to exceed 900 million by 2025, propelled by the rising use of Indic languages. Rural areas lead this growth, with substantial engagement in digital content and AI innovations shaping the landscape.
Key Takeaways
- 900 million internet users projected in India by 2025.
- Rural India leads with 488 million users.
- 98% of users access content in Indic languages.
- AI adoption among 90% of internet users.
- Digital gender gap narrows, with 47% of users being women.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) Fueled by the increasing utilization of Indic languages for online content, India's internet user count is projected to exceed 900 million by 2025, according to a report released on Thursday. The active internet user tally reached 886 million in 2024, reflecting a solid 8 percent annual growth rate. Notably, rural India, boasting 488 million users, spearheads this expansion, representing 55 percent of the entire internet demographic, as outlined in the report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar.
A staggering 98 percent of internet users are engaging with content in Indic languages, with Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam emerging as the frontrunners due to their vast availability.
Additionally, 57 percent of urban internet users favor consuming content in regional languages, highlighting the escalating need for local language content across various platforms, the report reveals.
Over the past year, AI has proven to be a transformative force. An impressive 90 percent of internet users have engaged with applications that incorporate AI functionalities.
"The widespread enthusiasm and acceptance of AI should motivate digital firms to roll out more advanced AI features in India," stated Biswapriya Bhattacharya, Director of B2B and Technology at Kantar Insights–South Asia.
The digital gender gap in India is progressively shrinking, with 47 percent of all internet users now being women—marking the highest proportion to date.
In rural India, female internet users constitute a significant 58 percent of users sharing devices, indicating considerable advancement in achieving equitable digital access over the years, as per the report.
Rural India leads in online engagement for key activities such as OTT video and music streaming, online communication, and social media usage, outpacing urban counterparts in these areas.
Conversely, urban India is at the forefront of adopting non-traditional devices like smart TVs and smart speakers, which have surged by 54 percent between 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, mobile devices remain the primary means of internet access for both urban and rural populations, according to the report.
