Jakarta, INTI - Internet penetration in Indonesia has reached 81.72 percent, equivalent to 235,261,078 users out of the country’s total population of 287,303,234 people. The figure marks an increase compared to the previous year’s penetration rate of 80.66 percent.

The data was announced by Chairman of the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII), Muhammad Arif, during the release of the 2026 Indonesia Internet Profile Survey in Jakarta. According to Arif, the findings demonstrate that internet access has become an essential part of daily life across multiple sectors in Indonesia.

“The internet is no longer just an additional necessity, but has become an integral part of social, economic, educational, and public service activities in Indonesia,” Arif said in an official statement on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Indonesia’s Internet Penetration Continues to Grow 

He explained that the rise in internet penetration reflects Indonesia’s ongoing and increasingly inclusive digital transformation. Arif added that the survey highlights the need for continued infrastructure expansion, improved service quality, and stronger public digital literacy.

Regionally, Java contributed the largest share of national internet users, with an internet penetration rate of 85.95 percent and accounting for 58.24 percent of Indonesia’s total internet users. Kalimantan recorded internet penetration of 80.40 percent with a 6.20 percent user contribution, while Sumatra reached 78.24 percent penetration and contributed 20.74 percent of users nationwide.

Meanwhile, Bali and Nusa Tenggara recorded penetration of 78.14 percent with a 5.26 percent contribution, Sulawesi reached 72.58 percent with a 6.62 percent contribution, and Maluku and Papua recorded 69.74 percent penetration with a 2.94 percent contribution.

The findings indicate that internet access distribution across Indonesia continues to improve, although regional digital disparities remain a challenge that requires further attention.

From a demographic perspective, internet penetration among men reached 83.95 percent with a user contribution of 50.03 percent, while women recorded 79.79 percent penetration and contributed 49.97 percent of users. According to Arif, the data shows that the gender gap in internet access is gradually narrowing.

Based on residential areas, urban communities recorded internet penetration of 84.75 percent with a contribution level of 60.59 percent, while rural areas reached 78.18 percent with a contribution of 39.41 percent.

The survey also found a strong correlation between education level and internet usage. The highest penetration rate was recorded among university graduates at 92.49 percent, followed by senior high school graduates at 90.44 percent, junior high school graduates at 82.48 percent, and elementary school or non-schooling groups at 74.84 percent.

By generation, the highest internet penetration rates were recorded among Millennials at 90.34 percent and Gen Z at 89.02 percent, highlighting the dominance of younger generations in digital technology adoption.

In terms of activity, working individuals represented the largest group of internet users, with penetration reaching 84.9 percent.

Digital Access, Usage Trends, and Security Challenges 

Regarding internet usage purposes, communication and social networking were the main drivers at 19.9 percent, followed by digital entertainment such as streaming and gaming at 19.7 percent, information and news access at 19.6 percent, and e-commerce and digital services at 18.7 percent.

“These findings show that the internet has become a crucial part of Indonesia’s social and economic activities,” Arif stated.

For people who are still not connected to the internet, the main barriers identified were the lack of internet-capable devices at 34 percent, limited knowledge on how to use digital devices at 31.5 percent, and internet data costs considered too expensive at 17.2 percent.

The survey also revealed that smartphones remain the primary device for internet access, used by 84.31 percent of respondents.

In terms of daily usage duration, most Indonesians spend around four to six hours online per day. Regarding digital security, respondents considered anti-online fraud features the most important at 24 percent, followed by anti-online gambling features at 21.7 percent and anti-pornography protection at 20.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the most common digital security issues experienced in 2026 were online fraud at 13.6 percent and personal data theft, hacking, or phishing incidents at 7.8 percent.

APJII’s 2026 survey also recorded growth in fixed broadband subscriptions. The number of fixed internet subscribers reached 99,515,436 people, reflecting a 3.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. Most subscribers used cable or fiber internet services, accounting for 37.9 percent.

APJII hopes the survey can serve as a strategic reference for the government, internet industry players, academics, and stakeholders in formulating policies and strategies for Indonesia’s digital ecosystem development.

The 2026 Indonesia Internet Profile Survey was conducted in collaboration with an independent survey institution across multiple regions in Indonesia to provide a comprehensive overview of the country’s internet landscape.

The survey was conducted from February 1 to March 15, 2026, involving 8,700 respondents proportionally distributed across 38 provinces in Indonesia. The sampling process used a multistage random sampling method, with data collected through face-to-face interviews and a margin of error of approximately 1.1 percent.

Conclusion 

The 2026 APJII survey highlights the continued growth of Indonesia’s digital ecosystem, with internet access becoming increasingly integrated into everyday social, economic, educational, and public activities. While internet penetration and digital inclusion continue to improve across regions and demographics, challenges related to infrastructure equality, affordability, digital literacy, and cybersecurity remain important priorities in supporting Indonesia’s long-term digital transformation.

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