Growth of Internet usage in the USA

Written By H. Pike Oliver

The growth of internet usage in the U.S. has been remarkable. Here's a general overview of the trends in five-year increments:

  • 1980–1995: Minimal internet use. The internet was still in its infancy and mainly used by researchers, academics, and government institutions. Per capita usage time was negligible.

  • 1995–2000: The internet became accessible to the public with the rise of web browsers like Netscape and services like AOL. Per capita usage increased but remained limited due to slower connection speeds and fewer accessible devices.

  • 2000–2005: With broadband adoption growing, people began spending more time online—around 3-5 hours per week on average.

  • 2005–2010: Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter surged in popularity, driving up online activity. The average time spent online increased to 10-15 hours per week per capita.

  • 2010–2015: Mobile devices revolutionized internet use, with smartphones making online access nearly constant. Per capita time reached about 20-25 hours per week.

  • 2015–2020: Streaming services, online shopping, and mobile apps pushed online time even higher, nearing 30 hours per week per capita.

  • 2020–2025: During the COVID-19 pandemic, internet usage skyrocketed due to remote work, online learning, and virtual socializing. Per capita usage now averages 40 hours per week or more, depending on demographics.

Growth in Internet users in the United States from 1990 to 2022

World Bank, Internet users for the United States [ITNETUSERP2USA], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ ITNETUSERP2USA, March 19, 2025.

Percentage of population using the Internet in the United States from 2000 to 2024

Statista. (2024, September 20). Percentage of population using the internet in the United States from 2000 to 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/209117/us-internet-penetration/

Daily internet usage per capita in North America from 2011 through 2021.

Petrosyan, A. (2024, January 9). North America: daily internet usage per capita 2011-2021. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/645644/north-america-daily-time-per-capita-internet/

Sources

  1. Internet users for the United States. FRED. (2024, September 19). https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ITNETUSERP2USA

  2. Statista. (2024, September 20). Percentage of population using the internet in the United States from 2000 to 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/209117/us-internet-penetration/

  3. Petrosyan, A. (2024, January 9). North America: daily internet usage per capita 2011-2021. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/645644/north-america-daily-time-per-capita-internet/

H. Pike Oliver

H. Pike Oliver focuses on master-planned communities. He is co-author of Transforming the Irvine Ranch: Joan Irvine, William Pereira, Ray Watson, and THE BIG PLAN, published by Routledge in 2022.

Early in his career, Pike worked for public agencies, including the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, where he was a principal contributor to An Urban Strategy for California. For the next three decades, he was involved in master-planned development on the Irvine Ranch in Southern California, as well as other properties in western North America and abroad.

Beginning in 2009, Pike taught real estate development at Cornell University and directed the undergraduate program in Urban and Regional Studies. He relocated to Seattle in 2013 and, from 2016 to 2020, served as a lecturer in the Runstad Department of Real Estate at the University of Washington, where he also served as its chair.

Pike graduated from San Francisco State University's urban studies and planning program and received a master's degree in urban planning from UCLA. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute and a founder and emeritus member of the California Planning Roundtable.

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