25+ digital inclusion statistics — broadband access gaps, income and education disparities, rural vs. urban differences, and what digital exclusion costs older Americans.
Digital inclusion — ensuring all people have access to and the skills to use digital technology — remains an unfinished project, particularly for older, rural, and lower-income adults. These statistics document the gaps and their consequences.
21%of adults 65+ have no broadband internet at home
— Pew Research, 2024
37%of adults 65+ in rural areas lack home broadband — nearly double urban rates
— Pew Research, 2024
43%of seniors with household income below $30K are not internet users
— Pew Research, 2024
$42Ballocated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for broadband expansion
— US Congress, 2021
41%of adults 65+ are 'limited users' — use internet but struggle with common tasks
— AARP, 2024
18%are 'non-users' — no internet use at all
— Pew Research, 2024
6 millionolder Americans estimated to lack necessary digital skills for independent internet use
— AARP Public Policy Institute, 2024
$440average annual cost savings available to digitally-included seniors (banking, shopping, health)
— AARP, 2024
80%of seniors use the internet for health information — for those who have access
— Pew Research, 2024
45%of digitally excluded seniors delayed or skipped healthcare during COVID due to telehealth barriers
— KFF Health Survey, 2021
Telehealthreduces transportation barriers for 1 in 4 rural seniors — only accessible with broadband
— Rural Health Information Hub, 2024
$1,200annual estimated healthcare savings for seniors who can use telehealth effectively
— McKinsey, 2024
57%of digitally excluded seniors report feeling 'very isolated'
— AARP, 2024
34%of isolated seniors report no meaningful social contact more than 3 days per week
— CDC, 2024
$3B+in unclaimed government benefits annually due to digital exclusion among seniors
— CBPP, 2024
47%of seniors who gained digital access report reduced loneliness within 6 months
— Age UK Research, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of seniors are digitally excluded?
18% of adults 65+ don't use the internet at all (Pew, 2024). An additional 41% are 'limited users' who struggle with common tasks. The gap is starkest in rural areas (37% lack broadband vs. ~20% urban) and low-income households (43% of seniors under $30K income are non-users).
What does digital exclusion actually cost seniors?
Significant losses: $440/year in savings from digital banking, shopping, and health comparisons (AARP). $1,200/year in potential healthcare savings from telehealth access (McKinsey). $3B+ in unclaimed government benefits annually goes uncollected due to digital exclusion (CBPP, 2024). And 57% of digitally excluded seniors report feeling very isolated.
Can digital inclusion be solved with the right support?
The evidence says yes. 67% of seniors who receive personalized tech help adopt within 30 days (AARP). 47% who gained digital access report reduced loneliness within 6 months (Age UK). The $42B broadband infrastructure investment is addressing access. The remaining gap is skills training and device accessibility — which community programs and simplified technology directly address.