New HIES 2024–25 data shows over 70% of Pakistani households now use the internet, with individual usage jumping from 17% in 2019 to 57%, reflecting rapid digital growth nationwide.
HIES 2024–25 Shows Rapid Expansion in Digital Access
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has welcomed the latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) findings released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) under the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024–25. The survey confirms that digital connectivity in Pakistan has grown at a remarkable pace over the last few years.
According to the findings, more than 96 percent of households now have access to mobile or smartphone facilities. Internet usage at the household level has also increased sharply, with over 70 percent of households using internet services. In 2019, only 34 percent of households reported using the internet, which means household connectivity has more than doubled in just a few years.
Household Connectivity Led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The HIES data shows that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is currently leading the provinces in household-level digital access. Around 77 percent of households in KP now have internet connectivity, putting the province ahead of many other regions in terms of home-level access.
PTA said this progress reflects sustained efforts by both the government and the regulator to expand coverage into underserved areas, improve service availability and make mobile devices and internet packages more affordable. Network rollouts, spectrum reforms and competitive data bundles have all helped bring more households online, including in regions that were previously under-connected.
Mobile and Smartphone Ownership Keeps Climbing
At the individual level, ownership and use of mobile phones and smartphones continue to rise. Among people aged 10 and above, mobile and smartphone ownership stood at 45 percent in 2019. By 2025, this figure had increased to 50 percent.
Nationwide, 92 percent of individuals are now using mobile phones in some form. This high level of mobile access has created a strong foundation for internet growth, as most Pakistanis experience the online world primarily through mobile broadband and smartphone apps.
Individual Internet Usage Jumps from 17% to 57%
The most striking change highlighted by the survey is the surge in individual internet usage. In 2019, only 17 percent of people aged 10 and above reported using the internet. By 2025, this figure had climbed to 57 percent—more than a threefold increase in just a few years.
The data also shows that the gender gap is narrowing, with men and women using the internet at similar levels overall. In urban areas, female internet usage is now estimated at 71 percent, which is even higher than male usage at 67 percent. This suggests that women in cities are increasingly using digital tools for education, work, entrepreneurship and social interaction.
Improved Digital Skills and Safer Online Practices
Beyond simple access, the survey findings point to better digital awareness among users. PTA has noted that more people are now familiar with safer online practices, including privacy settings, basic cybersecurity hygiene and responsible use of social media.
The increase in digital skills is important for the quality of internet use. When users understand how to protect their devices, avoid scams and manage their online footprint, they can engage more confidently in e-commerce, digital banking, e-learning and remote work opportunities.
PTA congratulated PBS on the release of the HIES 2024–25 ICT indicators, emphasising that this kind of data provides a strong foundation for informed policymaking and regulatory planning. With clearer numbers on how many people are online, where they live and how they use the internet, policymakers can design more targeted initiatives to close remaining gaps, especially in rural and low-income communities.
What the New Numbers Mean for Pakistan’s Digital Future
The fact that Pakistan’s internet usage has more than doubled at the household level since 2019, and risen sharply at the individual level, is a strong signal of how quickly the country is moving toward a more digital economy and society.
For government and regulators, the challenge now is to build on this momentum by improving service quality, expanding high-speed broadband, and ensuring that digital inclusion reaches women, low-income households and remote regions. For businesses, the new data confirms that a majority of households and a fast-growing share of individuals can now be reached through online channels, apps and digital services.
If backed by the right policies on affordability, skills and online safety, Pakistan’s rapid growth in internet use can translate into new opportunities in education, health, finance and employment—turning connectivity into real social and economic gains for millions of people.
