Internet Traffic from Mobile Devices Stats (2026)

Mobile Devices are one of the most preferred device types utilized by users across the world to access the internet. Today, internet users can access different types of websites, apps, and other activities using their mobile devices from any part of the world. Users can play games, perform online shopping, transfer money, stream videos, etc using their smartphones by accessing the internet.

In Fact, 58.63% of the website traffic in 2026 is generated through mobile devices. In this article, we are going to take a look at the internet traffic from mobile devices stats 2026, Internet traffic statistics by category, device type, and more. 

Key Internet Traffic from Mobile Devices Stats 2026

• Mobile devices accounted for 58.63% of global internet traffic in Q4 2026.
• Mobile internet traffic reached its highest share of 62.73% in Q2 2025 during the reported period.
• India recorded the highest mobile web traffic share at 77.3% in September 2026, followed by Nigeria at 75.2%.
• The United States recorded a 49.1% mobile web traffic share, while the United Kingdom reached 53.6%.
• Global mobile network data traffic increased by 23% year over year in Q2 2026.
• Monthly global mobile network traffic exceeded 220 exabytes in Q2 2026.
• Mobile broadband internet traffic reached 1.7 zettabytes in 2026.
• Global mobile broadband traffic grew at an average annual rate of 18.2% between 2021 and 2026.
• Android accounted for 69.17% of worldwide mobile web usage in September 2026, compared with 30.81% for iOS.

Global Internet Traffic from Mobile Devices 2026

Mobile devices accounted for 58.63% of global internet traffic in Q4 2026, according to statista. The share increased from 51.29% in Q4 2025, marking a rise of 7.34 percentage points year over year. 

Mobile internet traffic also reached 62.73% in Q2 2025, the highest share in the dataset. Over the longer term, mobile’s contribution to global internet traffic increased from 54.8% in Q1 2021 to 58.63% in Q4 2026, showcasing the continued importance of smartphones and other mobile devices in accessing the internet.

Source: Statista

Mobile Web Traffic Share by Country 2026

India had the highest mobile web traffic share at 77.3% in September 2026, followed by Nigeria at 75.2%. Germany recorded 59.9%, slightly above the global average of 59.0%. The United Kingdom (53.6%), France (53.1%), and China (52.6%) also recorded mobile traffic shares above 50%.

Source: StatCounter

In comparison, the United States stood at 49.1%, followed by Australia at 48.6%, Canada at 46.4%, and Japan at 45.8%. Indonesia and Brazil recorded lower shares of 43.6% and 36.6%, respectively. This shows that mobile devices account for a larger share of web traffic in some countries than in others.

Mobile Internet Traffic Growth Statistics in 2026

Global mobile internet traffic continues to grow as more people use smartphones for browsing, video streaming, and other online activities. Rising smartphone subscriptions and higher mobile data consumption are contributing to this growth.

According to Ericsson’s Mobility Report, global mobile network data traffic increased by 23% year over year in Q2 2026. Monthly mobile network traffic also exceeded 220 exabytes during the quarter.

The ITU estimated that mobile broadband internet traffic reached 1.7 zettabytes in 2026, compared with more than 1 zettabyte in 2023. Between 2021 and 2026, mobile broadband traffic grew at an average annual rate of 18.2%.

• Global mobile network data traffic grew by 23% year-over-year in Q2 2026.
• Monthly global mobile network traffic exceeded 220 exabytes in Q2 2026.
• Mobile broadband internet traffic reached 1.7 zettabytes in 2026.
• Mobile broadband traffic recorded an average annual growth rate of 18.2% between 2021 and 2026.
• Video accounted for approximately 75% of mobile network traffic at the end of 2025.

Android vs. iOS Mobile Traffic Statistics

Android and iOS dominate mobile web traffic worldwide. Android has the largest global share because it runs on smartphones from numerous manufacturers, while iOS is exclusive to Apple’s iPhone devices.

Businesstats data for September 2026 shows that Android accounted for 69.17% of worldwide mobile web usage, compared with 30.81% for iOS. Together, the two operating systems represented almost all tracked mobile web usage.

Source: Businesstats

Smartphone Internet Usage Statistics 2026

Smartphones have become the primary devices for accessing the internet, browsing websites, watching videos, using social media, and shopping online. Mobile internet usage continues to grow as smartphone adoption increases and more people rely on mobile devices for everyday online activities.

7.68 Billion Smartphones Were Active Worldwide in 2026

DataReportal recorded 7.68 billion smartphones in use worldwide in October 2026. These devices made up 89.4% of all mobile phones in use, showing how smartphones account for the majority of mobile devices globally.

5.86 Billion People Used Mobile Phones Globally in 2026

The number of mobile phone users worldwide reached 5.86 billion in October 2026, representing 70.4% of the world’s population. This means more than seven in ten people worldwide used a mobile phone.

4.8 Billion People Accessed the Internet Through Mobile Devices in 2025

GSMA reported that 4.8 billion people accessed the internet through mobile devices by the end of 2025. This represented 59% of the global population, making mobile connectivity an important source of internet access worldwide.

3.4 Billion People Still Had No Access to Mobile Internet in 2025

Around 3.4 billion people were not using mobile internet at the end of 2025. Despite the wider availability of mobile networks, a large share of the global population remained disconnected from mobile internet services.

Mobile Broadband Networks Covered 96% of the Global Population in 2024

GSMA data shows that 96% of the world’s population lived within mobile broadband coverage areas in 2024. However, having network coverage does not guarantee internet access. High data costs, limited digital skills, and a lack of suitable devices can prevent people from using available mobile services.

93.7% of Online Adults Used Smartphones for Internet Access in 2025

GWI’s Q2 2025 survey found that 93.7% of online adults used smartphones for at least some of their internet activities. The figure reflects the widespread use of smartphones for everyday tasks, such as searching for information, checking social media, watching videos, and shopping online.

4.4 Billion People Used Personal Smartphones for Mobile Internet in 2024

According to GSMA, 4.4 billion people worldwide used their own smartphones to access mobile internet in 2024. This accounted for 54% of the global population, highlighting the role of personal smartphone ownership in connecting people to online services.

Mobile Internet Traffic Growth Statistics

Global Mobile Data Traffic Grew by 23% in 2026

Global mobile data traffic increased by 23% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, according to Ericsson’s June 2026 Mobility Report. Higher mobile internet usage in India and North America contributed to this growth as more people used smartphones to access online content and services.

Monthly Mobile Data Traffic Crossed 220 Exabytes in 2026

Global mobile network data traffic exceeded 220 exabytes (EB) per month in Q2 2026, according to Ericsson. The rise reflects growing internet consumption on smartphones, particularly for video streaming, social media, online browsing, and other data-heavy activities.

Global Mobile Data Traffic Will Reach 328 Exabytes per Month by 2031

Ericsson projects that global mobile data traffic will rise from 146 exabytes per month in 2025 to 328 exabytes per month by 2031. This means monthly mobile data consumption is expected to more than double over six years, driven by increasing smartphone usage, higher data consumption, and wider 5G adoption.

Average Monthly Smartphone Data Usage Reached 22 GB in 2025

Average monthly mobile data consumption per active smartphone reached 22 GB worldwide in 2025, compared with 19 GB in 2024. Ericsson expects this figure to climb to 42 GB per month by 2031 as smartphone users consume more online video, social media content, and other internet services.

5G Accounted for 48% of Global Mobile Data Traffic in 2025

5G networks carried 48% of global mobile data traffic at the end of 2025, up from 34% in 2024, according to Ericsson. The share is expected to reach 85% by 2031 as 5G coverage expands and more people use 5G-compatible smartphones.

Video Made Up 75% of Global Mobile Data Traffic in 2025

Video content accounted for approximately 75% of global mobile data traffic at the end of 2025, making it the largest source of mobile network data consumption. Video streaming services, social media clips, and short-form videos continue to drive demand for mobile data.

Global Mobile Data Traffic Increased by 6% in Q2 2026

Global mobile network data traffic rose by approximately 6% between the first and second quarters of 2026, according to Ericsson. This quarterly increase reflects the continued growth in mobile internet usage and demand for data across global markets.

Distribution of Mobile Users in the US that access the Internet via Mobile Devices 

As of 2024, 86.26% of mobile users in the United States access the internet using their mobile devices. There has been a constant growth in the number of mobile users accessing the internet using mobile devices in the US and this number is expected to keep growing in the future as well. By 2027, the number of mobile users utilizing mobile devices to access the internet is expected to reach 88.24%. 

The Highest proportion of mobile internet traffic comes from Sudan 

Globally Sudan has an internet traffic proportion of 83.92% followed by Nigeria – at 81.43% and 

South Africa – 72.59% as the highest mobile internet traffic nation worldwide. While Russia has the lowest proportion with 30.2% of mobile internet traffic since the majority of users prefer to access the internet through their desktop. The second country with the lowest proportion of mobile internet traffic is Portugal with 34.12%, followed by Canada as the third country with the lowest proportion 37.71%. 

92.3% of internet users access the internet via mobile phones of some kind 

Internet users can access the internet using various kinds of devices such as laptops, tablets, etc. But regardless of so many options available, mobile phones are still the number one choice of device by users for accessing the internet. Apparently, 9 in 10 users (92.3%) prefer using a mobile phone of some kind over other devices to access the internet. Meanwhile, 65.6% use a desktop or traditional laptop. Below we have mentioned a table showcasing the kind of devices accessed by users to access the internet: 

Internet Traffic Statistics By Category

Today, users are accessing the internet for different types of activities such as entertainment, financial management, work requirements, shopping, e-commerce, and more. Especially with growing technology the use cases are expected to keep on rising.

Based on the latest survey, the most common usage of mobile devices among users is “Gaming” by 68%. Followed by listening to music as the second most common use of mobile phones by 67% and social media by 63%. Here is a table showcasing the top activity data of mobile devices: 

Wrapping Up 

Based on the above-mentioned statistics it’s clear that users prefer mobile devices the most when it comes to accessing the internet for various activities online. As of 2026, 58.63% of website traffic comes from Mobile Devices alone.

In Fact, 93.7% of online adults prefer accessing the internet via their smartphones compared to desktops or other devices. In addition, there is also a constant rise in monthly cellular data consumption by users which is expected to keep on growing in coming years.