30+ VPN Statistics, Trends & Facts (2025-2027)

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are becoming important tools for protecting online privacy, keeping data safe, and accessing content freely. As more people use the internet worldwide, demand for trustworthy VPNs is also growing. Millions of users rely on them for things like using public Wi-Fi safely or accessing websites blocked in their country. Between 2025 and 2027, we can expect significant changes in how people use VPNs and in the market’s growth. This article shares over 30+ VPN statistics, trends, and facts, showing global usage, market growth, security issues, and new technologies shaping the future of VPNs.

VPN Market Size and Growth Statistics

There are 1.75 Billion VPN Users Worldwide in 2025

As of May 2025, an estimated 1.75 billion people worldwide use VPNs, representing roughly one-third of all internet users and about 20% of the global population. This figure is based on data from countries where VPN market penetration exceeds 10%, meaning the actual number of users is likely even higher. With 5.64 billion internet users globally.

VPN Market Expected to Reach $534.22 Billion by 2034

The global VPN market is projected to grow rapidly from 2025 to 2034, nearly increasing sixfold over the decade. In 2025, the market size stands at $88.96 billion, but strong demand for online privacy and secure remote access pushes the value to $108.57 billion in 2026 and $132.50 billion in 2027. 

By 2030, the market is expected to reach $240.83 billion, more than doubling its 2025 value in just five years. Growth accelerates even further in the early 2030s, climbing to $293.91 billion in 2031, $358.68 billion in 2032, and $437.74 billion in 2033. By 2034, the VPN market is forecast to hit $534.22 billion.

77% of VPN Market Share in 2023 Belonged to Commercial Users

In 2023, the VPN market was heavily dominated by commercial users, who accounted for 77% of total market share, reflecting the growing need for secure remote access, data protection, and network encryption across businesses of all sizes. In contrast, individual users represented only 23% of the market, highlighting a significantly smaller though steadily rising segment driven by increased concerns over online privacy, streaming access, and personal cybersecurity.

India and China Lead the Global VPN Market in Revenue and Users

The largest VPN markets in the world are led by India and China, which show both massive user bases and high annual spending. India generates the highest VPN market revenue at $17.69 billion with over 403 million users, followed by China with $14 billion and 319 million users. Indonesia ranks third, contributing $5.9 billion annually and serving 134.6 million users. 

The U.S. remains a major market as well, producing $3.47 billion in revenue with 79 million users. Several emerging markets also show strong adoption, including Brazil (50.3 million users), Turkey (30.5 million users), and the Philippines (30 million users). Mexico, Russia, and Egypt round out the top ten, each generating over $1.17 billion per year and supporting user bases between 26–29 million.

VPNs Restricted or Banned in Approx 19 Countries 

VPN usage is restricted or banned in approximately 19 countries worldwide. In some nations, such as Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, and Turkmenistan, using a VPN is completely illegal. Other countries, including Russia, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates, impose heavy restrictions on VPN use, often requiring government-approved services that can compromise privacy. The remaining 11 countries enforce lighter regulations, limiting VPN functionality or access in specific ways.

VPN Usage Statistics

Almost 23% of Internet Users Worldwide Rely on VPNs

Globally, around 22.9% of internet users rely on VPN services, but usage varies widely by region. In the United States, adoption is significantly higher, with about 42% of Americans nearly 105 million people using a VPN, almost double the global average. 

VPN usage in the U.S. has also grown quickly, rising from approximately 39% in 2022 to 46% in 2023, reflecting a sharp increase in demand for online privacy and security. This growth aligns with rising public awareness: by 2023, 95% of American adults were familiar with VPNs, compared to just 72% in 2020, showing how rapidly knowledge and adoption have expanded.

40% of VPN Users Connect Daily or Almost Daily

VPN usage frequency varies widely among users. Only 40% of VPN users report using their service daily or nearly every day, while 24% use a VPN at least once a week and 8% use it at least once every two weeks. This means that the remaining 28% use VPNs less frequently or irregularly.

Gen Z Leads VPN Usage Worldwide, Making Up 39% of Users

VPN usage is more common among younger and male users. Estimates show that 62% of all VPN users are male, highlighting a noticeable gender gap in adoption. Age trends are equally significant, with 39% of global VPN users falling between 16 and 24 years old, making Gen Z the largest group using VPN services.

51.4% of Users Access Only Free VPNs

Many people depend on free VPNs, with 51.4% of users are using only free services. However, this is risky because free VPNs often have weaker security, limited protection, and may even sell user data to keep their services running. On the other hand, 34.6% of users use only paid VPNs, showing that a large group prefers stronger privacy and better security features. Another 14% of users use both free and paid VPNs, switching between them based on convenience and safety.

36% of VPN Users in the US and UK Use Services Every Day

In the US and UK, VPN usage is frequent, with 36% of users activating their VPN at least once per day, reflecting strong concerns about security and privacy. Another 41% use their VPN at least once per week, showing that regular protection has become a common habit for most users. Meanwhile, only 10% use their VPN less than once per month, indicating that occasional or rare usage is relatively uncommon.

2 in 5 Remote Workers Use VPNs for Secure Access

Among remote workers, VPN usage is fairly common, with 43% of respondents in PCMatic’s post-COVID study reporting that they use a VPN while working from home. In contrast, 38% said they do not use a VPN, and 19% were unsure about their VPN usage. This means that roughly 2 in 5 remote workers rely on VPNs to secure their home internet connections. 

VPN Awareness in the US Jumps to 88% in 2023

Nearly half of Americans now use a VPN for work or personal purposes. Public knowledge of VPNs has grown sharply, with 88% of Americans familiar with the concept in 2023, up from 72% in 2020.

50% of VPN Users Connect for Streaming and Entertainment

About 50% of VPN users say they use VPNs to access entertainment content, such as streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, which offer different libraries depending on the user’s location. This makes content streaming the top non-work reason for VPN usage. 

Other common reasons include accessing social networks (34%), browsing anonymously (31%), and accessing files and services for work purposes (30%), showing that VPNs are widely used for both personal and professional online activities.

71% of Companies Expanded VPN Capacity During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 71% of companies increased their VPN capacity to accommodate the sudden shift to remote work, according to Cybersecurity Insiders. The rapid move to remote operations put significant pressure on existing VPN infrastructure, forcing most organizations to scale up. Notably, 20% of companies reported increasing their VPN capacity by at least 76%.

40% of VPN Users Seek Protection from Online Tracking

Privacy concerns are a major driver of VPN usage, with nearly 40% of users reporting that they use VPNs to prevent tracking by search engines and social media platforms. By masking IP addresses and encrypting traffic, VPNs help disrupt profiling and data collection by big tech and advertisers. Additionally, 35% of users employ VPNs to hide their browsing activity from their Internet Service Provider (ISP), adding another layer of privacy and protection from entities that can monitor online behavior.

52% of People Don’t Use VPNs Because They Feel They Don’t Need One

Research shows that 52% of respondents state they don’t use a VPN because they simply doesn’t fee the need to use one. Other common barriers include cost (27%), difficulty setting it up (20%), and unclear benefits (13%). Concerns about security and privacy also play a role, with 8% of people doubting VPN security and 9% questioning the privacy they provide. Smaller shares cited issues like limited site access (5%), other reasons (5%), or insufficient knowledge about VPNs (4%).

VPN App Statistics 

VPN App Usage Reaches 147 Million Users in 2025

VPN app usage has grown steadily over the past several years, reaching approximately 147 million users in 2025. The number of users has more than doubled since 2018, when 49 million people accessed VPN apps. Growth accelerated through the early 2020s, with 57.3 million users in 2019, 67 million in 2020, and 78.4 million in 2021. By 2022, usage rose to 91.8 million, followed by 107.4 million in 2023 and 125.6 million in 2024.

Super Unlimited VPN and Turbo VPN Top App Downloads in 2025

In 2025, Super Unlimited VPN and Turbo VPN led the VPN App Market with 73.5 million and 73.1 million downloads, respectively, making them the most downloaded apps. Following them, Stolitomson VPN saw 56.5 million downloads, while well-established apps like NordVPN (30.6M), ProtonVPN (21.7M), VPN Lumos (21.4M), and ExpressVPN (17.1M) had significantly fewer downloads despite being on the market longer. Other apps, including TunnelBear (10M), Surfshark (9.8M), Windscribe (6.4M), and Norton VPN (2.3M).

VPN Security Statistics

43% of VPN Users Prioritize Security When Choosing a VPN

According to a Surfshark survey, the most common reason people purchase a VPN is to enhance security, with 43% of users citing it as their primary motivation. Other popular reasons include streaming content (26%) and protecting privacy (12%). Smaller segments use VPNs for accessing restricted content (9%), travel (4%), gaming (3%), or work purposes (3%).

56% of Organizations Hit by VPN-Related Cyberattacks in the Past Year

Over the past year, 56% of organizations have experienced cyberattacks that exploited vulnerabilities in their VPNs. These attacks often involved hackers taking advantage of flaws in VPN servers or client software to gain access to corporate networks. The high percentage underscores that while VPNs are critical for secure remote access, they can also become a potential weak point in enterprise security if not properly managed and updated.

91% of Cybersecurity Professionals Worry About VPN Vulnerabilities

Around 91% of cybersecurity professionals are concerned that compromised VPNs could result in serious breaches of their IT infrastructure. This indicates that nearly all security teams view VPN connections as a potential “weak entry point” if not properly secured. As a result, many organizations are re-evaluating traditional VPN solutions and increasingly exploring zero-trust security approaches to reduce risk and strengthen overall network protection.

42% of Companies Face Ransomware Through VPN Vulnerabilities

The most frequent attacks exploiting VPN vulnerabilities include ransomware (42%), other malware infections (35%), and DDoS attacks (30%) delivered through VPN connections. Once attackers gain access via a VPN weakness, they often attempt lateral movement within the network, making these breaches particularly dangerous.

24% of IT Professionals State Limited Visibility as VPN’s Biggest Issue

When asked about their top VPN challenges, 24% of IT and cybersecurity professionals cited a lack of visibility into user activity as the primary concern, making it the most common issue. Close behind, 23% said that the high cost of maintaining VPN security and infrastructure was their greatest challenge.

Q3 2024 Saw Massive Rise in Fake VPN App Infections

In 2024, detections of malware-laden fake VPN apps jumped 2.5× in Q3 compared to the previous quarter. For instance, in May 2024, U.S. authorities dismantled a large botnet built from computers infected via at least 18 fake free VPN apps. This surge underscores the risks of downloading unverified VPN software, showing how easily such apps can compromise devices and user security.

50% of Users Secure Their Connections on Public Hotspots with VPNs

About 50% of VPN users report using their VPNs to secure connections on public Wi?Fi networks, such as those in cafés or airports. Public hotspots are often vulnerable to snooping and cyberattacks, but VPNs protect users by encrypting their traffic, making it unreadable to potential eavesdroppers.

VPN Future Trends

70% of Enterprise VPN Market Likely Dominated by Leading Providers by 2035

By 2035, the leading VPN providers are projected to control 70% of the enterprise VPN market, signaling a high level of market consolidation. These providers are expected to focus on advanced threat isolation and multi-factor authentication to improve network access hygiene and strengthen enterprise security.

China and India Fuel VPN Expansion Through 2035

China is projected to lead VPN market growth with a 27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2035, driven by investments in remote work infrastructure and specialized internal encryption protocols. India follows closely with a 25% CAGR, fueled by rising demand for secure digital connectivity across small businesses and the education sector.

17% CAGR Expected in U.S. VPN Market Amid Rising Cloud Security Needs

The U.S. VPN market is projected to grow at a 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2035, driven by increasing demand for cloud-native security, stricter cybersecurity policies, and improved enterprise VPN orchestration tools.

35% of WAN Users Plan to Adopt VPNs Soon

Enterprise VPN adoption is on the rise, with 30% of WAN users currently using VPNs and an additional 35% planning to implement them in the near future. This growth is largely driven by organizations efforts to modernize network security and meet evolving compliance requirements

VPN Technology Advances with Lightweight Clients and Zero-Trust Frameworks

VPN innovation is accelerating, with new developments such as faster protocols like WireGuard, widespread use of 256-bit AES encryption, and lightweight, cross-platform clients enhancing performance and usability. Additionally, VPNs are increasingly integrating zero-trust frameworks and offering scalable solutions through firmware upgrades that extend device lifecycles.

Wrapping Up 

VPNs are becoming more important than ever as people look for privacy, security, and freedom online. Once mainly used by businesses to protect data and support remote work, VPNs are now widely embraced by everyday internet users. People also rely on VPN services to stay safe on public Wi-Fi or to access content from anywhere in the world. As technology improves and privacy concerns rise, VPNs are set to remain an essential tool for safe, flexible, and unrestricted internet access in the years ahead.