VPN Statistics for 2024 – Keeping Your Browsing Habits Private

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The modern web erodes personal privacy as giant corporations sell data for profit. Hackers are stealing information. Governments are spying. It’s more important than ever to keep sensitive information safe.

Your life doesn’t have to be an open book. Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology can help you keep your private information private. According to VPN statistics, more and more are taking the plunge.

Check out the stats on internet usage below to learn more about the prevalence of VPNs and internet privacy in 2023.

Virtual Private Network Statistics 2024 – Key Findings

  • 33% of internet users worldwide have used a VPN.
  • 62% of all VPN users are male.
  • As of 2023, 93% of organizations currently use a VPN.
  • There are 1.5 billion VPN users in the world as of 2023.
  • About 39% of VPN users are between 16 and 24.
  • 43% of people globally feel they lack control over personal information.
  • About one-third of 5.07 billion internet users worldwide use a VPN as of 2023.
  • The combined consumer and business VPN market is estimated to be worth at least $44.6 billion worldwide and will reach $75.59 billion by 2027.
  • 77% of people use VPNs for personal use, while 50% use VPNs for business use.
  • 72% of desktop and laptop users use a VPN, while 69% use a VPN on a mobile device.

VPN Usage Statistics

The revenue growth of VPN and its adoption rate by individuals of different age brackets and organizations shows that it has invaluable benefits and solutions for their pain points: geographical restrictions, privacy, and security.

1. The VPN industry was valued at $44.6 billion in 2022 and will reach $75.59 billion by 2027.

(Statista, Gitnux)

The world’s national VPN market has been on a constant rise. In 2016, the overall market was $15.64 billion. At the same time, the average increase was around $2.5 billion. 2021 projections see the market worth $31.1 billion, with a $4.5 billion increase. In 2022, the VPN market value was pegged at $12 billion. 

2. Approximately 90% of all VPN services are offered by companies founded after 2005.

(ACM Internet Measurement Conference)

One of the more interesting VPN stats – almost all existing companies providing VPN services were nonexistent before 2005. 45 out of 50 surveyed VPNs were founded after 2005, which indicates the same time, privacy concerns rose among internet users around the globe. Some of the best-known VPN services based than are still strong today, including IPVanish, StrongVPN, and Ironsocket.

3. More than 33% of all internet users rely on VPN services.

(SurfShark)

SurfShark’s statistics about internet users reveal that VPN usage worldwide has been steadily increasing, especially after the adoption of smartphones and the increase in internet usage for purposes such as business transactions and remote work.

4. About 62% of all VPN users are male.

(Exploding Topics)

Global VPN users statistics reveal apparent discrepancies between genders. Only 38% of VPN users in the world are women. Worldwide, only half of VPN users employ the technology as often as once a month. Among them, 60% are men, and 40% are women.

5. About 39% of all VPN users are aged 16 to 24.

(GlobalWebIndex)

The demographic-based GlobalWebIndex VPN usage data shows that approximately three-quarters, or 75% of all users, are younger than 37, indicating that older generations need to be better-versed in the technology. The same internet user statistics suggest that about 25% of all VPN worldwide users belong to the 38-55 age group, and 16% are older than 55.

6.About 43% of all VPN users use it for security reasons as of 2023.

(Exploding Topics, Gitnux) 

About 43% of desktop and mobile VPN users use the service primarily for security reasons. Only 9% of users employ VPN to access entertainment content, according to the latest VPN usage statistics. Users also employ VPNs to access social networks and news services or to remain anonymous while browsing the internet. Accessing files, sites, and services at work is in fourth place, and communicating with friends and family abroad closes out the top five uses. 

  • Security (43%)
  • Streaming (26%)
  • Privacy (12%)
  • Accessing content (9%)
  • Travel (4%)
  • Gaming (3%)
  • Work (3%)

7. More than 77% of all VPN users buy digital content monthly.

(Pixel Privacy)

Internet statistics reveal that among VPN users who pay for digital content each month, 33% of them are doing so to download music. Second place, 27%, is split between three monthly purchases: music streaming services, movie or TV streaming services, and mobile apps.

8. 69% of internet users use VPN on their mobile devices.

(Forbes)

 72% of desktop/laptop users use a VPN, while 69% use a VPN on a mobile device. Among VPN users who employ the service daily, only 62% are desktop users. VPN user statistics reveal that while desktops are still the preferred option, mobile users are much more active everyday. 

Among users accessing VPN services four to five times a week, desktops are in the lead by 2% (15% compared to 13%). The same goes for active users two to three times a week (14% on desktops, 11% on mobile). 

10. More than 56% of all VPN users access Netflix monthly.

(Earth Web) 

Netflix VPN stats show that users outside the United States are interested in watching American TV shows. VPN statistics by region tell us that five out of every ten users of VPN services are circumventing region-locked content to stream Netflix, indicating that tens of millions of people use it for that purpose.

This becomes evident when we look at Canadian or Mexico VPN users. In both countries, 49% of all VPN users confessed to using VPN for Netflix streaming. At 37%, Brazil is in third place, with the UK, Ireland, and India behind them.

11. 47% of users are at least semi-regularly using VPNs when traveling abroad.

(Earth Web) 

Global internet access statistics prove that tourism and business travel abroad fuel VPN adoption. This is especially true for those flying in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions where various restrictions are routinely imposed on internet users, and VPNs are essential to staying connected.

12. Indonesia is the country with the highest usage of VPNs as of 2022.

(Security.org)

Asian VPN adoption is much higher than in the rest of the world. With the mass use of VPNs in Indonesia at over 55%, the country stands firmly in first place in global VPN usage. India followed closely behind with 43%, while United Arab Emirates (UAE) came third at 38% VPN usage rate, according to global web user statistics.

13. NordVPN ranked the best VPN service in 2022.

(Gitnux)

NordVPN received a 4.8 out of 5-star review ranking in 2022, making it the best VPN service available. The VPN service is known for its speed, effectiveness, affordability, and simplicity. Surfshark comes second with a review score of 4.6/5.

14. 47% of personal VPN users use a free VPN service

(Security.org, Surfshark).

Half of personal VPN users chose a free service to access geo-restricted content over the internet, not for security benefits. However, one major drawback of free service is usually a need for more functionality, as over 60% of free VPN users encounter problems like slow internet speed (39%), numerous or buggy ads (13%), and streaming issues (12%).

VPN Cybersecurity and Privacy Statistics

Privacy is a significant priority for individuals, businesses, and governments as they deal with delicate data and personal information that shouldn’t get into the wrong hands. This is where VPN comes in to save the day. Take a look at the privacy and security statistics as of 2023.

15. About 74% to 80% of Americans have limited internet use due to privacy concerns.

 (Statista)

US internet usage statistics show that internet users in America are becoming more cautious about sharing their data online. Out of 74% of users who said they limit their internet use, about 51% have done so by not clicking on ads, 44% withheld personal information, and 32% haven’t downloaded an app or product due to privacy concerns. Moreover, out of all internet users in the USA who stopped using a website or mobile app, 47% said they did so because they were asked to provide too much personal information.

17. 81% of Americans say they would like to do more to protect their privacy.

(PR Newswire)

According to online privacy statistics, six out of ten Americans feel they need to do more to protect personal information and sensitive data on the internet. Users are increasingly distrustful of governments and social media networks. 77% of Americans support more regulation on advertisers, saying that current laws are not protecting their privacy well enough.

18. 2,000 Americans don’t want their online data collected but are powerless to do so.

(ASC UPENN)

In recent years, the pervading feeling of powerlessness regarding the erosion of online privacy has left the vast majority of Americans believing that they have no control over how their information is being used. According to internet privacy statistics, about 80% of social media users expressed concerns about advertisers and businesses accessing their data. Only 9% were confident that social media companies protect their data.

19. The U.S. government allocated $15.6 billion for cybersecurity for the fiscal year 2023.

(Accenture Security, Security Intelligence)

Accenture Security surveyed 4,644 executives of companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more from 16 countries around the world.  Almost one-quarter reported that, in just one year, the cost of fighting cybercrime increased by 25% for their organization. Statistics about the internet reveal that three cybersecurity protection areas with the most significant cost increases are security monitoring, network security, and threat detection. 

20. Nigeria had the lowest VPN adoption rate of 3.4% in 2022.

(Gitnux)

VPN adoption rate in Geria is on the lower side as Nigerians still need to be fully aware of the benefits that come with the adoption of VPN in their personal and business lives. This figure will likely increase in 2023 as more awareness is being made. Thailand and Japan followed with a 1.91% and 1.48% adoption rate, respectively.

21. 93% of cybersecurity professionals are concerned about cloud security.

(Cybersecurity Insiders)

Of 93% of tech professionals who have expressed concerns about private and business cloud data safety, 38% are highly concerned. In comparison, 37% are very concerned, showing that the threat is becoming a real crisis.

Conclusion

With rising concerns about privacy and data and many people spending more time online than ever for work and personal reasons, the demand for VPN technology is drastically increasing. The need for VPNs skyrocketed due to the increase in remote jobs and the increasing need to stay safe and sound in the dangerous online world.

People will continue to use VPNs in the years ahead, not just for accessing better entertainment but for protecting their browsing privacy too.

FAQ

What is a VPN?

VPNs create secure internet connections to allow business network access and bypass Internet censorship. They protect by shielding browsing activity and allowing users to obtain an IP address.

Is getting a VPN worth it?

Private data and browsing histories are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime, so protecting yourself using a VPN is essential. Government authorities can access our personal information and online account, so VPNs are the best choice for protecting private data.

What is the best VPN service?

Choosing the best VPN is subjective and cannot be quantified. Still, some companies have distinguished themselves in the VPN market and boast excellent service and customer trust: ExpressVPN, NORD VPN, Watchguard VPN, KeyVPN, IPVanish, and TunnelBear, among others. 

Are VPNs legal?

Cybersecurity statistics show that VPN services are becoming more critical as online shopping, socializing, and networking shift. VPNs are legal in most countries, but some, like China, Turkey, UAE, North Korea, Iran, and Russia, prohibit or discourage their use. It is recommended to turn off VPNs when traveling to countries where they are illegal.

Can you be tracked if you use a VPN?

VPNs encrypt internet traffic, making it impossible for web servers to track users. The only way for web servers to track users is if the provider reveals their identity. However, VPNs do not make users invisible or allow them to engage in cybercrime, as they were created to protect privacy.

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