India's internet user base to surpass 900 million by 2025, driven by rural growth and Indic languages

India's internet user base is projected to surpass 900 million by 2025, driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content, according to the 'Internet in India Report 2024' by IAMAI and KANTAR.

As of 2024, the number of active internet users in India stands at 886 million, reflecting an 8 percent year-on-year growth.

Rural India is leading this surge, accounting for 55 percent of the total internet population with 488 million users.

The report highlights the increasing importance of Indic languages in shaping internet consumption patterns. "The internet user base in India is set to surpass 900 million by 2025, driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content," the report states.

The report reveals that nearly all internet users—98 percent—access content in Indic languages, with Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam emerging as the most popular due to their extensive availability.

In urban India, over half of internet users, around 57 percent, prefer to consume content in regional languages, showcasing the growing demand for localized content.

Significant progress is also noted in narrowing the digital gender gap. "47 percent of all internet users in the country are women, so far the highest," the report says. Women now make up 58 percent of shared device users in rural India, indicating progress toward greater digital inclusion.

The report also points to a slowdown in the pace of internet penetration, especially in urban areas, compared to the rapid growth in previous years.

Rural India continues to experience double the growth rate of urban regions, highlighting untapped potential in these areas. Urban India is also leading the adoption of non-traditional devices, with smart TVs and smart speakers growing by 54 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Despite the growing adoption of new devices, mobile devices remain the primary means of internet access for both rural and urban users.

Rural India is dominating in key online activities such as OTT video and music streaming, online communication, and social media usage. However, urban areas still lead in net commerce, digital payments, and online education.