You don’t have to look at IoT statistics to know that technology is a huge part of people’s lives, and even more so now that the smart revolution is well on its way. The Internet of Things is the network that these various devices and machines use to communicate with one another. Like your smartphone controlling your automated coffee machine, or the new driverless cars connecting to GPS sensors for a seamless driving experience.
IoT has the potential to revolutionize entire industries. Healthcare, security, manufacturing, and so much more can be influenced by this incredible technology.
Internet of Things Statistics: Editor’s Choice
- About 4.93 billion people have access to the internet and use it regularly
- The global virtual assistant market will reach $11.3 billion by 2024
- The global IoT market revenue is $212 billion
- The total installed base of IoT devices is projected to reach 30.9 billion units by 2025
- The total economic impact of IoT could range between $4 billion and $11 billion by 2025
- About 98% of IoT traffic isn’t encrypted
- Nearly 20% of organizations saw at least one IoT-based attack
- By 2023, 70% of cars will connect to the internet
Technology Use Statistics
Technology is all around us. It’s there as soon as people wake up and serves multiple purposes throughout the day. Millions use their computers, mobile phones, and the internet for work, communication, and entertainment—and the innovations of technology are constantly evolving.
1. There are 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide as of January 2021.
(Statista)
The number of global internet users reached 4.66 billion in January 2021. That’s about 59.5% of the current global population. Based on the latest stats about technology, the internet has become a core pillar of modern technology, and living without it, for many, seems unthinkable.
2. Asia accounts for 53.4% of internet users.
(Internetworldstats)
The distribution of internet use varies by continent, and Asia currently hosts the majority of internet users and the world population in general. With 54.9% of the global population residing on this continent, it’s no wonder they have the most internet users. In contrast, recent technology use statistics indicate that Oceania/Australia contributes only 0.6% of internet users worldwide.
3. About 4.93 billion people have access to the internet and use it regularly.
(Broadbandsearch)
Regardless of which continent has the most internet users, there are 4.93 billion people with online access. This means that about 63.2% of the global population is online on a regular basis.
4. According to technology growth statistics, a total of 90% of global data was created in the last two years.
(Inshorts)
Even though the internet is a more recent invention, humans have already generated 90% of global data on it in just two years. The rising popularity and regular use of social media comprise the majority of this data with photos and videos being the primary contributors.
5. About 5 billion people globally own a smartphone.
(Bank Mycell)
Statistics about technology use also show that 5 billion people own a smartphone worldwide. In the US, 96% of people report having some kind of smartphone, and one in every five Americans say they are dependent on it.
6. The 5G network is predicted to be 100 times faster than 4G.
(Thalesgroup)
At the moment, people are using a 4G LTE standard, but they will soon replace it with a 5G network. The 5G network could deliver up to 10 gigabits per second, making it hundreds of times faster than the current internet. Technology growth statistics report that this will allow for better implementation of IoT technologies and seamless device communication.
7. The global virtual assistant market will reach $11.5 billion by 2024.
(Globenewswire)
Virtual assistants are becoming more popular. Based on recent predictions, the global VA market will reach $11.3 billion by 2024, a $9.1 billion growth since 2018.
8. There will be an estimated 555 million smart voice assistants that can control a smart home by 2024.
(Juniper Research)
Smart home devices are usually connected to the network and controlled via a voice assistant speaker. Based on the speedy IoT growth rate and other data, there will be about 555 million smart voice assistant devices by 2024, and they’ll serve to control smart homes.
9. By 2023, about 15% of homes will have a smart device installed.
(Hippo)
The developing trend of smart devices and smart homes is gaining significant traction. While many already have smart devices such as automated lights, security locks, and shades in their homes, IoT market growth is predicted to increase by 2023. With the introduction of virtual assistants and increasingly secure IoT networks, it seems smart houses are the home’s of the future.
10. About 46% of homeowners decide to install a smart device because of convenience.
(Hippo)
One of the selling features of a smart home is that it’s convenient and eliminates small, daily tasks that no one wants to think about. According to smart home statistics, 46% of homeowners note that convenience is a significant factor in deciding on a smart device. Other reasons include home monitoring, added protection, and reducing utility bills.
11. The global IoT market revenue is $212 billion.
(Findstack)
According to recent estimates, the global IoT market revenue for 2020 exceeded $212 billion, and continued growth is expected. Notably, the IoT marketplace will reach $3 trillion by 2026, based on current IoT statistics.
12. Google Home will account for 48% of the IoT device market by 2022.
(Futurum)
In 2018, Amazon Alexa had the largest global market share for smart speakers with a total of 52%. Google Home was the close second with 32%, and Apple HomePod had a 12% market share. Future estimates predict the market will change significantly in 2022, however, with Google Home taking 48%, Amazon Alexa taking 37%, and Apple HomePod remaining with 12% of the market share.
Internet of Things Trends
The latest trends in the IoT industry show that consumers will become more interested in IoT products as innovation, security, and accessibility become more integrated into smart systems and devices. IoT will significantly increase over the next decade, changing the way that we live around the globe.
13. IoT enterprise spending rose by 12.1% in 2020.
(IoTanalytics)
The overall IoT enterprise spending grew 12.1% in 2020, reaching $128.9 billion. In 2021, the IoT spending for enterprises is expected to grow 24% and 26.7% each following year, expanding the Internet of Things market size exponentially.
14. Consumer spending on smart home systems will grow over $170 billion in the next four years.
(Statista)
Consumer spending on smart home systems and services is expected to grow over $170 billion by 2025. As a result, the number of smart homes is predicted to increase by 400 million around the world, making IoT a significant part of everyone’s lives.
15. According to the latest Internet of Things data, 30.9 billion IoT devices are predicted to be installed by 2025.
(Statista)
The world saw about 13.8 billion IoT devices installed in 2021, and by 2025, this number will likely reach 30.9 billion units. The most popular examples include connected homes, cars, and industrial equipment.
16. The average number of connected devices in homes will grow from 10 to 50.
(Findstack)
Internet of Things growth data shows that the number of devices networked through IoT in homes will also increase from 10 to 50 in 2021. The latest technological advancements will dictate how people will utilize these smart devices and manage them in their homes.
17. Projected global IoT spending will reach $1.1 trillion by 2023.
(Statista)
During 2020, people around the world spent almost $749 billion on IoT tech. By 2023 however, worldwide spending will likely still be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Trends suggest that, if anything, IoT growth is positively affected by the pandemic, as the current internet of things market forecast shows a growth prognosis of $1.1 trillion.
18. There were 36 million virtual health visits and online appointments in the US.
(Forbes)
In 2020, IoT showed extreme potential in one of the most important industries—virtual healthcare. This investment supported the technology that supported 36 million virtual visits through telehealth, telemedicine, and more. This number quickly grew to over one billion and shows no sign of being a passing trend, according to the latest IoT in healthcare statistics.
19. Companies increased spending on IoT security by 40.3% in 2020.
(IoTanalytics)
Many have been wary to invest in IoT until security features have been increased. With IoT connecting door locks, security cameras, and more, it’s no surprise many want to be sure it can secure their houses and private business information. Notably, after publicity over high-profile breaches, 40.3% of companies increased spending on IoT security in 2020.
20. The total economic impact of IoT could range between $4 billion and $11 billion by 2025.
(Vxchnge)
This technology could become so important that the economic impact of the Internet of Things could range between $4 billion and $11 billion by 2025. Even though IoT is not yet fully developed, complementary technologies, like cloud and edge computing, can help its rapid growth.
21. In 56% of cases, businesses adopted IoT for operations optimization.
(Microsoft)
In 56% of cases, organizations adopt IoT technology to improve and optimize operations, while 47% of companies do so to increase employee productivity. Finally, 44% of organizations turn to IoT to improve the safety and security of the organization.
22. Microsoft market research shows that about 94% of companies will use IoT by the end of 2021.
(Microsoft)
Based on Microsoft’s Internet of Things market analysis, 94% of companies will utilize IoT by the end of 2021. Currently, 88% of companies that adopted IoT technology are happy with the results and consider IoT to be crucial in the company’s success.
Internet of Things Safety Data
Even though IoT appears to be an ideal solution for cyber security, there are still some aspects of it that must be improved in order for it to provide the best security measures.
23. About 98% of IoT traffic isn’t encrypted.
(Thesslstore)
Internet privacy facts show that about 98% of IoT device traffic isn’t encrypted, meaning the IoT devices are exposing personal and confidential information out on the network. This could also be the reason 63% of IoT users believe that the amount and type of information the devices collect is creepy.
24. Weak password protection is one of the six most common IoT security challenges.
(Thalesgroup)
Out of the six primary security concerns for IoT, weak passwords are first. Hacking simple passwords can happen easily with hacking software making it the first line of defense for your IoT network. In addition, Internet of Things statistics show that lack of regular patches, insecure interfaces, insufficient data protection, poor management, and the IoT skills gap are five other challenges that threaten the security of our smart devices.
25. Nearly 20% of organizations saw at least one IoT-based attack.
(Gartner)
IoT attacks happen when bad actors try to compromise the security of an IoT device. When the devices become compromised, attackers can steal the sensitive data, join devices to a botnet, or take control of the system. Based on the Gartner IoT statistics, almost 20% of organizations that use IoT devices saw at least one kind of IoT attack in the last three years.
26. The global IoT security spending is forecasted to be $3.1 billion by the end of 2021.
(Gartner)
According to the IoT security spending forecasts, $3.1 billion will be spent globally in 2021. About $631 million will go to endpoint security, $415 million to gateway security, and $210 million to professional services.
27. Security cameras represent 47% of vulnerable IoT devices.
(Zdnet)
IoT security statistics show that cameras represent 47% of all vulnerable IoT devices installed in home networks, making this security feature the most hacked IoT device. The most severe attacks target IP cameras and can easily bypass the security of cheaper camera models.
28. IoT attacks rose by 66% from 2019 to 2020.
(Globalsecuritymag)
During 2020, malware attacks on IoT devices spiked by 66% compared to 2019. In just one year, the number of attacks grew from about 34 million to 59 million, according to IoT attacks statistics for 2020.
29. About 33% of people have Internet of Things security concerns globally.
(Statista)
With a large number of IoT attacks, concern over IoT and its security is growing. According to the latest data, about 33% of people around the world are worried about attacks regarding IoT devices. Including concerns of unskilled or untrustworthy personnel, the percentage of people who are concerned about the security of IoT is almost 99%.
Internet of Things Facts
The Internet of Things remains the latest technology trend that still has more room for development. The onset of smart house assistants, smart door locks, automatic driving cars, and even smart medical bracelets, IoT has the potential to cover every aspect of our lives.
30. By 2023, 70% of cars will be connected to the internet.
(Vxchnge)
With the rise of autonomous vehicles and similar technology, it’s expected that 70% of cars will be connected to the internet by 2023, based on IoT technology statistics. At the moment, even automobiles that aren’t autonomous utilize some sort of IoT technology like back sensors and GPS location.
31. There are 127 new devices connected to the internet every second.
(Vxchnge)
The increasing span of tech devices that we use through the connection of the internet is simply astonishing. Since the onset of IoT just ten years ago, the expansive growth and potential of this technology is changing the world from the living room, to the car, to the workplace.
32. The estimated number of IoT devices by 2025 could reach about 75 billion.
(Statista)
The latest predictions show that the number of connected devices could reach 75 billion by 2025. Compared to 2019, this would be a threefold increase in the number of connected devices.
33. Over 60% of US cities are investing in smart city IoT technology.
(Vxchnge)
Smart cities are the cutting edge of IoT, and 60% of US cities are investing in going smart through IoT. Many cities are competing to fully utilize the potential of this technology to streamline municipal processes, organize security and crime prevention, and automize public transportation.
34. The latest IoT facts show the total number of IoT devices connected to Alexa was 100,000 in 2020.
(Statista)
Alexa is one of the most famous voice assistants, and in 2017 it had about 4,000 devices connected to its services. Today, there are 100,000 smart devices connected to Alexa, allowing it to improve its skills and provide a better service.
35. The total amount of data that connected devices share could reach 800 zettabytes.
(Vxchnge)
The more devices that connect to the IoT network, the more data they will share with one another. Internet of Things predictions show the amount of communicated data will surpass 800 zettabytes, where one zettabyte is equal to about one trillion gigabytes.
36. The smart home market is expected to reach $53 billion by 2022.
(Statista)
The smart home market that includes home automation that controls various home systems will grow to $53 billion in 2022. The automation will allow users to control climate, appliances, lights, and other parts of the household.
37. Smart cities could create business opportunities of about $2 trillion market value by 2025.
(FrostandSullivan)
Based on IoT smart city usage statistics, this technology could generate business opportunities worth over $2 trillion by 2025. About 70% of smart city spending will derive from the US, Western Europe, and China.
38. The highest number of IoT devices are in China, with 3.17 billion.
(Statista)
China is currently leading with the implementation of smart devices. There were 3.17 billion connected devices in China in 2020, used across industries. Still, the most important prominent sector for using smart devices is the internet, media, and smartphones.
Conclusion
Based on the latest IoT statistics, the world is readily adapting to this futuristic technology. With the promise of making life easier, IoT and related smart technology is being implemented at an ever-expansive rate in homes, offices, cars, and even entire cities.
As a technology with less than a decade under its belt, issues regarding security and privacy concerns are still being addressed. While many worry about the amount of exposed personal and corporate data available through IoT networks, it doesn’t seem to slow down the pull that smart devices and automation have on most of humanity.
People Also Ask
In 2020, the Internet of Things market was worth about $389 billion globally. All types of industries and consumers are utilizing some part of the IoT, but the consumer segment still represents the largest share of the IoT market, with a 35% share. Smartphones remain the most commonly used IoT device.
About 127 new devices connect online every second, and according to the latest data, there will be about 46 billion connected devices in 2021, with 31 billion more installed by the end of the year.
Market predictions indicate that these numbers will grow globally each year, completely revolutionizing the way we live and work. Some state that by 2030, there will be 125 billion Internet of Things devices around the world. That’s approximately 15 IoT devices per person.
When people think of IoT, they likely think about a complicated system operating in a complex environment. The truth is, almost everyone has seen an IoT device at least once, and these devices are more common than people think.
For example, smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home fall under the category of IoT devices. Autonomous vehicles are also somewhat IoT. There are also industrial sensors, smart cameras, manufacturing robots, and even fitness devices that operate based on IoT technology.
The future of IoT looks like total world integration. The latest data shows that the number of IoT devices installed in homes will grow avidly over the next decade and that more organizations and businesses are turning towards this innovative tech as well. As a result, there will be more smart cities worldwide, which will open new markets and business opportunities.
The current issue in IoT development is solving cyber security and privacy corruption threats. With so much valuable data available, network security needs to be unbeatable for people to fully embrace IoT as a new way of life.
It’s not easy finding the exact number of people who use the Internet of Things, mainly because there are many different IoT devices in many aspects of human life. Currently, there are 46 billion connected devices globally, and these include both organizational and private usage.
Some people might use IoT devices in the factories they work at but come back to a home that’s not optimized for IoT. Others might enjoy a completely autonomous home with over 20 connected devices that are constantly active. Overall, about 46% of homeowners have smart devices installed for convenience.
During 2019, the IoT market size averaged around $250.17 billion, but with the arrival of the pandemic, organizations had to turn to the latest most available technology to help them manage. The new projections state that by 2027, the global IoT market will be worth $1463.19 billion.
IoT statistics show an expansive market that is only set to grow over the next decade, especially with the introduction of smart cities and industrial automation.