The Internet Society has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing that the number of people online reached a record 6 billion last year, nearly doubling from 3.2 billion in 2015, yet roughly 2.2 billion people remain entirely offline and disconnected from economic and educational opportunities.
The report, the first under the organisation’s 2030 Strategy, documents a year of measurable progress alongside deepening structural challenges for the global Internet.
Sally Wentworth, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Internet Society Foundation (ISF), said that while the gains are worth celebrating, the shared vision of an Internet that is for everyone is getting harder to bring about. She cited the fragility of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, the routine use of Internet shutdowns to silence communities, and rising surveillance and privacy breaches as urgent threats.
In 2025, ISOC and ISF collectively disbursed USD 20 million in grantmaking and philanthropic giving, trained 53,800 people, ran more than 55 advocacy campaigns in 150 countries and territories, and hosted or co-hosted 122 events. The organisations supported people in more than 87 countries to establish or improve connectivity in their own communities, directing USD 7,120,889 to connectivity initiatives.
A key policy achievement came when United Nations (UN) Member States reaffirmed the multistakeholder model of Internet governance and granted a permanent mandate to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). ISOC played an active role in securing that outcome through years of sustained advocacy.
The report also highlights significant advocacy wins on encryption. In France, the Internet Society France Chapter and the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC) mobilised against proposed amendments to the “Narco Trafficking Bill” that would have forced companies to provide access to decrypted messages. The French Parliament subsequently removed the provision.
On digital shutdowns, the Internet Society Pulse platform tracked 16,783 hours of Internet access lost globally through intentional shutdowns since February 2025, estimating a combined gross domestic product (GDP) impact of USD 134 million.
Security grantmaking through the ISF reached USD 7,280,068 across 179 grants, funding localised programmes that equipped newly connected communities, including refugees, Indigenous groups, and women-led enterprises, with practical tools to navigate safely online.
The financial summary for the year ended December 31, 2025, shows total revenues of USD 66.2 million against total expenses of USD 53.1 million, resulting in a change in net assets of USD 29.6 million. The Public Interest Registry (PIR) contributed USD 58 million to ISOC, which remains the primary funding source.
Looking ahead, the organisations plan to launch the Online Trust and Safety Hub in 2026 and, together with co-funding partners including the governments of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, intend to direct more than USD 80 million toward Internet development by the end of 2029.
