VPN demand in Mauritius jumped 24,001% on November 1, 2024, the largest single-day surge Top10VPN has ever recorded. Across the world, 23% of internet users aged 16 and over reported using a VPN in Q2 2025. This breakdown of VPN usage statistics by country covers download-based adoption rankings, the US decline, and the censorship events that trigger the biggest spikes.
VPN Usage Statistics by Country: Key Facts
- 23% of internet users aged 16+ used a VPN in Q2 2025, per We Are Social’s Digital 2026 report.
- The UAE leads download-based adoption at 85.50% in 2025; the UK ranks 7th at 27.48% (Cybernews).
- US survey usage fell to 32% in 2025, down from 46% in 2023 (Security.org).
- Mauritius recorded a 24,001% demand surge on November 1, 2024 (Top10VPN).
- Global VPN app downloads reached 412.5 million in 2025, down from 464 million in 2024 (Cybernews).
How Many People Use a VPN Worldwide?
23% of internet users aged 16 and over reported using a VPN in Q2 2025, based on GWI survey data in We Are Social’s Digital 2026 Global Overview Report. That share has held in a 22.7%–24.7% band since late 2022.
App downloads track separately. Cybernews counted 412.5 million VPN downloads across the 50 most popular apps in 2025, below the 464 million logged in 2024 and the 2022 peak of 487 million.
Global VPN app downloads, 2022–2025 (millions)
Downloads are not users. One person can install an app many times or never open it, which is why survey figures and download counts rarely line up. If you run Chrome OS, our guide on why VPNs are essential for Chromebook users explains where that gap matters most.
VPN Usage Statistics by Country: Download Adoption Rankings
Cybernews ranks countries by VPN app downloads measured against population for 2025. The UAE tops the list at 85.50%, with a 71.04% average across 2020–2025. Gulf states fill more than a third of the global top 10.
Download-based VPN adoption by country, 2025
| Country | Adoption (2025) | Global rank |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 85.50% | 1 |
| Qatar | 58.47% | 2 |
| Oman | 54.06% | 3 |
| United Kingdom | 27.48% | 7 |
| France | 20.71% | 10 |
| Germany | 17.93% | 15 |
| Canada | 16.68% | 18 |
| United States | 16.20% | 21 |
| Italy | 6.60% | 61 |
| Japan | 4.08% | 81 |
Source: Cybernews VPN Adoption Report, 2025 data (download-based adoption, 50 apps across 126 countries).
The US ranks 21st with 54.1 million downloads in 2025, down from 63.4 million in 2024. France posted the biggest climb in the table, up 12 positions, as downloads rose to 13.1 million from 11.1 million. The UK reached 18.3 million downloads, up from 16.6 million.
Adoption rates in 106 of the 126 countries Cybernews tracked stayed flat or fell in 2025. Chromebook owners weighing the same data can compare options in our roundup of the best VPNs for Chromebook.
Where the top 20 VPN countries sit
Of the 20 highest-adoption countries, 10 are in Asia including the Middle East, 7 in Europe, 2 in Oceania, and 1 in North America. No South American or African country ranks in the top 20.
VPN Usage in the United States
Security.org’s 2025 survey of 1,009 US adults found 32% use a VPN, down from 46% in 2023 and 39% in 2022. Work-only VPN use fell to 8%, from 13% in 2023.
US VPN usage, share of surveyed adults
| Year | US adults using a VPN |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 39% |
| 2023 | 46% |
| 2025 | 32% |
Source: Security.org, VPN Consumer Report, July 2025 (survey of 1,009 US adults).
Security.org attributes part of the drop to the wind-down of pandemic-era remote work and fewer employer-mandated VPNs. Setup habits still matter for privacy, as our walkthrough on how to strengthen your Chromebook’s online privacy lays out.
VPN Usage Statistics by Country: Demand Surges
Top10VPN’s live tracker measures demand spikes against the average of the previous 28–30 days. Government blocks and blackouts drive the sharpest jumps.
VPN demand surges by country (percent increase)
| Country | Demand increase | Trigger | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | +24,001% | Pre-election social media blackout | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Bangladesh | +7,043% | Internet restored after 5-day shutdown | Jul 24, 2024 |
| Nepal | +2,892% | Social media platforms blocked | Sep 7, 2025 |
| Uganda | +2,557% | Post-election restoration; social media blocked | Jan 2026 |
| United Kingdom | +1,987% | Online Safety Act age verification | Jul 27, 2025 |
| Iran | +934% | Restoration after 88-day blackout | May 26, 2026 |
| United States | +827% | TikTok US shutdown | Jan 19, 2025 |
| France | +570% | Adult-site age verification | Jun 5, 2025 |
| Missouri (US) | +350% | State age verification | Nov 30, 2025 |
| Australia | +330% | Adult-site age verification | Mar 8, 2026 |
| Turkey | +188% | Social media block | Mar 19, 2025 |
Source: Top10VPN, VPN Demand Statistics live tracker, updated June 5, 2026.
Mauritius holds the record at 24,001% during a pre-election social media blackout. Iran’s 934% spike followed an 88-day nationwide internet blackout, the longest in the tracker’s history. Free apps spike hardest during these events, so our notes on how to choose the best free VPN for Chromebook and the wider tips for using a VPN on a Chromebook are worth a read before installing one under pressure.
FAQs
What percentage of people use a VPN?
23% of internet users aged 16 and over reported using a VPN in Q2 2025, according to GWI data in We Are Social’s Digital 2026 report. That is roughly one in four internet users.
Which country has the highest VPN adoption?
The UAE leads at 85.50% download-based adoption in 2025, per Cybernews, with a 71.04% average across 2020–2025. Qatar (58.47%) and Oman (54.06%) rank next.
Is VPN use declining in the United States?
By survey, yes. Security.org found 32% of US adults used a VPN in 2025, down from 46% in 2023 and 39% in 2022. It links the drop to fewer employer-mandated work VPNs.
Did VPNs bypass the US TikTok ban, and what did Reddit users say?
US VPN demand spiked 827% on January 19, 2025 when TikTok shut its US servers, per Top10VPN. Reddit users on r/VPN reported that VPNs alone often failed to restore access without extra workarounds.
What causes the biggest VPN demand spikes?
Government blocks and blackouts. Top10VPN recorded 24,001% in Mauritius (Nov 2024), 7,043% in Bangladesh (Jul 2024), and 2,892% in Nepal (Sep 2025), each tied to social media restrictions.
Sources:
https://www.top10vpn.com/research/vpn-demand-statistics/
https://cybernews.com/best-vpn/vpn-usage-by-country/
https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/
https://wearesocial.com/us/blog/2025/10/digital-2026-global-overview-report/
