Digital Divide Widens in Brazil as Internet and AI Access Grow Unevenly in 2025
Despite internet access growth in Brazil reaching 86% of households in 2025, significant social disparities persist, especially in equitable use of generative AI and quality connectivity.
- • 86% of Brazilian households have internet access, with stark differences between higher and lower income classes.
- • 32% of internet users engage with generative AI, predominantly wealthier and educated individuals.
- • Mobile phones are the main internet access for lower-income users, but many face data cap and speed issues.
- • Online payment adoption and government service platform use vary widely by socioeconomic status.
Key details
Brazil has reached a milestone with 86% of households connected to the internet in 2025, a dramatic climb from 51% in 2015, signaling expanded digital inclusion. However, a deep disparity persists: while nearly all in the wealthiest classes (99% in Class A and 95% in Class B) enjoy internet access, only 73% of the poorest classes (D and E) are connected, leaving about a quarter of lower-income citizens offline. This digital gap affects generative AI usage as well. Approximately 50 million Brazilians, or 32% of internet users, engage with generative AI, but adoption skews heavily toward wealthier, more educated groups. For instance, 69% of Class A users leverage AI tools versus just 16% of Classes D and E. Education plays a key role, with 59% of people with higher education accessing AI compared to 17% among those with elementary education only.
The predominant mode of internet access for lower-income users remains mobile phones, though around 64 million Brazilians—especially prepaid plan holders—face issues with data caps, limiting their connectivity quality. Additionally, 55% of mobile users report adequate data packages, but 33% experience speed drops, compelling many to purchase extra data.
On usage behaviors, 92% use instant messaging, 75% utilize online payment systems such as Pix (with near-universal adoption in Class A but much lower in poorer classes), and 19% engage in online betting, predominantly men. Government digital platform gov.br is accessed by 56% of the population, though usage varies significantly by income and region.
Experts like Fabio Storino, coordinator of the TIC Domicílios survey, note that these figures underscore a digital inclusion challenge: simply providing access is insufficient without improving connectivity quality and digital skills. Renata Mielli of CGI.br emphasized the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and digital literacy to mitigate risks from increasing online gambling.
The TIC Domicílios survey, conducted from March to August 2025 with data from over 27,000 households, highlights that while Brazil's digital footprint expands, significant divides in internet and AI access remain tied to socioeconomic status, age, and education, necessitating focused policies for an inclusive digital future.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.