36 Cool Technology Growth Statistics to Learn About Today

When people think about technology, they usually think about smartphones or computers. However, the technology growth statistics show that technological advancements allowed a whole set of devices to become connected.

This led to an increased amount of collected data and opened up new areas to explore. For example, machine learning is widely used to analyze big data, while smart devices help people obtain control over their homes.

Take a look at how humans got here and where all this technology is heading.

Top Technology Growth Stats (Editor’s Choice) 

  • Global spending on technology has reached $3,212 billion.
  • Informational technology is expected to reach $5 trillion in 2021.
  • As of January 2021, there are 4.66 billion active internet users globally.
  • Downloading all data from the internet would take 181 million years.
  • The current AR, VR, and MR global market size is $30.7 billion.
  • There will be up to 1.01 billion 5G connections by 2023.
  • About 15% of homes will have a smart device by 2023.
  • The AR and VR industry will grow by $162.71 billion from 2021 to 2025.

Growth of Technology Over the Years

Technology has grown immensely over the last decade. Still, back in the day, not many people had constant access to the internet or smartphones. Here’s how technology developed in the last 20 years.

1. In 2000, only half of Americans had broadband access in their homes.

(Source: Weforum)

Many more people are on the internet today compared to the beginning of the millennium. However, based on the data on broadband access from the 2000s, only half of the Americans could use it at home. Today, a total of 90% has access to it. Also, less than 7% of the global population was online in 2000, based on the info on technological growth rate.

2. Internet use increased by 1,266% from 2000 to 2020.

(Source: Broadband Search)

These numbers mean that the use of the internet grew by 1,266% from the 2000s to 2020s. Regarding regions, Asia still has the majority of internet users and makes up 51.8% of the total internet population.

3. A total of 90% of global data was created in the last two years.

(Source: Global Issues)

The 2020  technology growth statistics point out that the increased internet use also brought an increased amount of collected data. So much so that 90% of global data was generated just in the last two years.

4. At the beginning of 2000, there were 740 million cell phone subscriptions globally.

(Sources: Weforum; Pew Research)

When it comes to cell phones, in 2000, there were 740 million users worldwide. Today, that number reached about 5 billion, most of them scattered around countries with better economies.

General Statistics on Technology Use and the Industry

Even though the pandemic somewhat slowed down the growth, it’s far from stopping completely. There are still many new job openings and tech companies out there, as the global spending on technology reached $3.4 billion.

5. Global spending on technology has reached $3,4 billion.

(Source: Zippy Electrics)

At the moment, the global spending on technology is close to $3.4 billion. This number is based on all households and businesses that spend money on the latest trend in the technology industry, like the newest tablet, iPhone, computer, and similar items. Additionally, the US remains the largest technology market, with 33% of the market share.

6. The global information technology industry should reach $5 trillion in 2021.

(Source: Saggezza)

Even though the technology industry went through some hardships during the peak of the pandemic, in 2021, it should reach $5 trillion, according to technology growth statistics. This would represent a 4.2% growth from last year.

7. What’s more, hardware, software, and services make up 56% of the current technology industry.

(Source: FinancesOnline)

At the moment, hardware, software, and services make up 56% of the technology market. For comparison, the core category of telecom services takes up 26% and emerging technologies 19%.

(Source: FinancesOnline)

The current rate of technology growth allowed for 4.6 million job openings in 2019. A total of 822,000 were related to emerging technologies. There were 557,700 tech firms in the US, and the estimated median tech salary was $84,284.

Facts on Internet Technology Use

The internet is one of the key players in technological development. Billions of people use it daily to shop, work, and have fun. These are some of the most interesting facts on internet technology use.

9. As of January 2021, there are 4.66 billion active internet users globally.

(Source: Statista)

The global digital population reached 4.66 billion in January 2021. In addition, there were 4.32 billion active mobile internet users and 4.2 billion social media users. The speed of technology advancement helped China, India, and the US in outranking all other countries when it comes to the number of internet users.

10. Another 127 devices get online each second. 

(Source: VXchnge)

The number of devices that get online changes by the second, and each second brings in 127 new devices that connect. The biggest catch is that it’s not just the phones that get online. Today, watches, cars, doorbells, and almost anything else can be connected to the internet.

11. Downloading all data from the internet would take 181 million years.

(Source: Unicorn Insights)

The information technology growth and the way people use technology led to the enormous databases stored online. If someone was to start downloading all that information, it would take them 181 million years to finish.

IoT, AR, VR, and AI Data

The current internet development will increase the use of the Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence. At the moment, about half of the Americans already use AR without knowing.

12. IoT enterprise spending rose by 12.1% in 2020.

(Source: IoT Analytics)

Bigger organizations are the first to embrace the IoT. This could be the reason behind the IoT enterprise spending rising by 12.1% in 2020, according to tech industry growth data. What’s more, by the end of 2021, enterprise spending is forecast to grow by 24%.

13. The top industry that uses IoT is manufacturing, at 40.2%.

(Source: FinancesOnline)

Many industries are already utilizing IoT technology. Business and manufacturing are the biggest users of IoT, with 40.2%, followed by healthcare, 30.3%, retail, 8.3%, and security, 7.7%, and transportation, with 4.1%, according to the rate of technological advancement.

14. There are 3.25 billion people who use voice-activated assistants globally.

(Source: Business 2 Community)

When it comes to AI tools and technology, there are 3.25 billion people who use voice assistants out there. In addition, some experts believe that about half of internet searches are already done by voice. Still, people are often looking for directions, weather, and similar basic info.

15. The current AR, VR, and MR global market size is $30.7 billion.

(Source: Statista)

According to the technology industry analysis, the global Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality market size is $30.7 billion in 2021. By 2024, this number will likely rise to $300 billion, led by connected devices and the interest in metaverse – a reality where real and digital worlds come together.

The Future of Technology in Numbers

Technology can only go up from here. Based on current stats about technology, the forecasts for the latest tech trends are highly optimistic. AI and IoT will drastically improve their positions in the market and become a tool that millions of people are using daily.

16. There will be up to 1.01 billion 5G connections by 2023.

(Source: Orangesoft)

The 5G connection will be the next technological wonder. The 5G technology will create a revolution in how people use the internet. There will be about 1.01 billion 5G connections by 2023, according to the 2021 technology statistics.

17. The global spending on mobile 5G infrastructure is expected to reach $2.3 trillion.

(Source: Enterprise Project)

Regarding the global spending on mobile 5G infrastructure, it’s expected to hit $2.3 trillion soon. In addition, the number of remote workers will also increase, which might prompt organizations to invest in 5G technology in order to ease the workflow.

18. The web hosting services will be worth $77.8 billion by 2025.

(Source: Orangesoft)

According to the IT industry analysis, the web hosting service market will be worth $77.8 billion by 2025. Additionally, 70% of all tech spending will go towards cloud solutions.

19. A total of 72% of people will use their smartphones to browse the web by 2025. 

(Source: CNBC)

Soon, smartphones will become the only tool people use to access the internet. By 2025, 72% of people will use the web just on their phones, according to the technology growth rate. That’s about 3.7 billion of the global population.

20. There will be 7.5 billion smartphone users by 2026.

(Source: Statista)

What’s more, there will be 7.5 billion smartphone users by 2026. China, India, and the US also lead in the number of smartphone users. The overall smartphone market still has a lot of room to grow.

21. About 15% of homes will have a smart device by 2023.

(Source: Hippo)

At this advancement rate of technology, smart devices will become more common in the future. It’s predicted that 15% of households will have a smart device installed by 2023. People will mostly install smart devices for convenience.

22. The spending on smart home devices and systems could reach over $1.1 trillion by 2023.

(Source: Statista)

Even though the pandemic slowed down global IoT spending, the forecasts for the future are positive. By 2023, the global spending on IoT technology could reach $1.1 trillion. The Asia-Pacific region will also hold the largest share of the market.

23. By 2025, about 30.9 billion IoT devices will be installed.

(Source: FutureIoT)

These 2021 technology growth statistics show that by 2025, 30.9 billion IoT devices will be installed globally. For comparison, there are 13.8 billion units out there at the moment.

24. By 2025, 38.6 billion smart devices will collect, analyze, and share data.

(Source: Orangesoft)

What’s more, by 2025, people will have 38.6 billion connected devices that will collect, analyze, and share information. As a result, AI tools will assist businesses, and IoT usage will continue to increase.

25. A total of 70% of cars will be connected to the internet by 2023. 

(Source: VXchnge)

Based on the tech industry analysis, smart devices will exist outside people’s homes as well. By 2023, 70% of cars will be connected to the internet. Autonomous vehicles will become the new trend, as extensive research is done today to explore how these cars will operate.

26. The amount of data shared between the connected devices could reach 800 zettabytes. 

(Source: VXchnge)

Billions of connected devices will also create vast amounts of information. The numbers might reach 800 zettabytes, and one zettabyte is equal to about one trillion gigabytes. However, most of the data will remain unstructured, and data centers will have to expand storage capacity.

27. By 2025, the global big data analytics revenue will reach $68 billion.

(Source: Statista)

This tech industry growth rate shows that big data will also become important. So much so that by 2025, the global big data analytics revenue will hit $68 billion. That’s a CAGR of about 30%.

28. Joined IoT markets will be worth around $1.8 trillion by 2028.

(Source: Orangesoft)

At the moment, all IoT markets are worth $389 billion. By 2028, they are projected to grow to $1.8 trillion. The industry will develop new gadgets in just a few years from now.

29. The AR and VR industry will grow by $162.71 billion from 2021 to 2025. 

(Source: PR Newswire)

Technology growth stats include the latest development in the AR and the VR industry. Based on the latest data, this industry will grow by $162.71 billion from 2021 to 2025. That’s a CAGR of 46% during the forecasted period.

30. By 2023, the number of AR users could reach 2.4 billion.

(Source: FinancesOnline)

Following the industry’s growth, the number of users will also increase. By 2023, there could be about 2.4 billion AR users globally. For example, 55% of consumers would like to enjoy music and concerts via VR.

31. By 2025, the global AI market is predicted to reach $190.61 billion.

(Source: Semrush)

Technology growth stats on AI also show positive movement and predictions. By 2025, the AI market is forecast to reach $190,61 billion. Additionally, the forecasted AI annual growth rate from 2020 to 2027 is 33.2%.

32. Global smart speaker sales will surpass $30 billion by 2024.

(Source: Invoca)

Smart speakers will soon become the top-selling consumer electronic item. By 2024, global smart speaker sales will surpass $30 billion. By 2022, about 55% of homes will own one of these devices.

33. About 555 million smart voice assistants will control a smart home by 2024.

(Source: Juniper Research)

According to these technology growth statistics, there will be 555 million smart voice assistants controlling homes by 2024. Alexa, Assistant, and Siri will be the most commonly used.

34. There is a 50% chance that high-level machine intelligence will be created around 2040 to 2050.

(Source: Towards Data Science)

Humans are always looking to improve technology. This is why there’s a 50% chance that high-level machine intelligence will be created from 2040 to 2050. By 2075, the odds will increase to 90%, according to 2020 technology statistics.

35. AI products will contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

(Source: PWC)

AI can turn out to be a highly lucrative industry. Some reports claim that it could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, AI is still at an early stage of development.

36. The global machine learning market will reach $20.83 billion by 2024.

(Source: Zion Market Research)

With AI comes machine learning, as these two technologies often work together. Current data shows that the global machine learning market will reach $20.83 billion by 2024. Google, Baidu, AWS, and Microsoft are some of the key players in the market.

Conclusion 

The latest technology growth statistics outline the importance of technology in people’s daily lives. Even though the pandemic slightly affected some areas of the industry, the development of technology is far from stopping.

Soon, there will be more smartphones than humans on Earth, and AI, VR, and IoT will become a part of daily lives.

Smart devices will control people’s homes, and multiple industries will benefit from these tech innovations. Additionally, billions will flow into the global economy as the tech industry grows and spending on technology increases.

FAQ

Just 20 years ago, connecting to the internet seemed impossible for about 50% of Americans. Today, one click on a smartphone is enough to get people online. What’s more, in the 2000s, there were 740 million cell phone subscriptions, while today, the smartphone industry serves about 5 billion people.

A few years from now, the 5G network will connect about 1 billion devices. These devices will generate an immense amount of data that will be used to further improve their functions. As a result, AI, AR, and IoT industries will become established and generate billions of dollars globally.

The two reasons that sparked the quick technological development were inventions and the need to communicate. Some examples of crucial inventions include the engine, electric generators, telephones, and medical inventions.

On the other hand, humanity always had an immense need to communicate, making some think of new ways to send information to others. With the prior inventions and access to energy, it was only a matter of time before another new method of communication was invented.

During the past few decades, humanity diligently worked on creating some of the best technological tools used today. Still, the rate of technological development is not increasing as fast as people believe it does.

Still, people are focused on purchasing the latest gadgets, which makes them think technology develops faster. In reality, it’s the adoption that’s growing since more people living in developing countries get the financial power to purchase new tech products.

Technology is progressing faster than ever before. However, just 10 years ago, some things were unimaginable to the masses. The 2010s were the decade of disruption. Mobile phones upgraded from 3G to 4G networks.

With the increased internet use, social media brought people online. Genomic sequencing costs fell. Additionally, electric vehicles started competing with internal combustion motors. Finally, big data took off, and cloud services started operating.

In the era of available information, people are continuously bombarded with news about the latest technology. Based on these news, many conclude that technology growth happens exponentially and that every year brings something new.

However, there’s still no change to the traditional model of tech development. Technology is still created to solve all sorts of simple problems. What’s more, many of the newest devices aren’t that new after all. They don’t bring anything crucially different and are often just improvements of older models.

Today’s generations live in a different world than their parents or grandparents. These generations are used to dealing with social media, video editing, AR, VR, and the metaverse. For them, today’s technology should actually improve and bring them more fun and better connection with their online friends.

However, the parents and grandparents of these generations believe that technology might be advancing too fast. They don’t understand how things work, and many are worried about whether what they see and hear is even real, based on the technology growth statistics.